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‘“I’m right glad to see ye’ ” 









ROUND HILL FARM 


BY 

M. ANNETTE STILLMAN MINER 

r 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY 

H, BOYLSTON T>UMMER 



THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY 

BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS 


Copyright, 1911 

The 0. M. Clark Publishing Company 

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 

U. 8. A. 


All BighU Reserved 


To My Hvshand 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


^ I’m right glad to see ye ’ ” — Frontispiece ^ 

PAGE 

^'The carriage stopped in front of a 

GREAT RAMBLING STRUCTURE ” . 22 ^ 

My cousin, Tom Lester, sent me a ^ 
BEAUTIFUL COLLIE DOG ” . . 41 

‘ Ruth,’ she exclaimed, ^it is almost 

A PERFECT PICTURE OF YOU! ’ ” . 90 

“The men soon had a good fire 

BURNING ” 120^ 

“ ^ Gan’t you love me just a little?’ ” 197 




Round Hill Farm 


CHAPTER I 

The morning sun filtered its way between 
the chimneys of the buildings that lined the 
city streets. A dry, northeast wind swept 
clouds of dust and rubbish down the busy 
thoroughfare as my aunt, Jane Lester, and I 
hurried along on our way to the station. 

At the first comer a good-looking, stalwart 
young man seemed to be waiting for someone. 
^‘Um, there they come,^^ he muttered. 

“ Why, Cousin Tom! We didn't expect you 
to go to the station with us — ^it's so ridicu- 
lously early," said I, surprised, but glad to see 
him. 

'‘Well, I'm here. Give me that bag. But 
who ever heard of two women going to the 
country in April? It's a beastly month — all 
mud and slush!" 

"Now, now; we have heard all that before. 

1 


2 


Round Hill Farm 


If you are going to growl, I shall wish you had 
stayed at home” 

But who ever heard of anything so 
foolish? Everything will be cold, damp and 
dismal. Father is so cut up about your 
going and mother is actually in tears.^' 

Oh, please don^t talk like that. It^s 
absurd and so depressing. If we do not like 
the place, we can come back. Anyone would 
think we were going to a far country, when in 
reality it is only a few hours’ ride on the 
cars.” 

^'Yes, I know, but it’s like you to stay a 
long time if you fancy the place. Here we are 
at the station.” 

He hurried to the express office and made 
sure that our trunks would go all right, then 
he bade us good-bye with the air of a martyr. 

Remember, I shall run up occasionally to 
see how you are getting along; and Aunt 
Jane, if you are homesick, let me know and 
I’ll come up and help you make Ruth come 
back.” 

He was gone, and I boarded the north- 
bound train with a feeling of elation. ^^Now 
for the country!” I thought. 

The time passed quickly after leaving the 


Round Hill Farm 


3 


city and we were soon out in the open country. 
I watched the shifting landscape from the 
car window and wondered how these hills 
and valleys would look in June. 

Even the young man across the car did not 
interest me much, although our eyes met 
when I looked his way. I remembered after- 
wards of thinking he was a splendid looking 
man, and I had a dim impression that he was 
big and tall, and that his face was clean 
shaven. As I said, my mind was not on the 
people in the car, but on the landscape. It 
was the country that interested me. I was 
wondering how the fann would look where 
we were going. 

Aunt Jane Lester’s uncle had died and left 
her a little farm which he owned among the 
New England hills. I had never seen this 
uncle; our two families had not been on 
visiting terms. Why, I never knew, but I 
have heard it rumored that my grandfather 
and great-uncle both wanted to marry the 
same woman. Whatever the cause, Great- 
uncle never married or settled in any one 
place until he was quite old, when he 
decided to live on the farm Aunt Jane now 
inherited. 


4 


Round Hill Farm 


What he expected a maiden lady and her 
niece, who had lived nearly all their lives in a 
city, could do with a farm is something I 
have yet to learn. I think he must have had 
some misgivings on the subject himself, for 
the land was leased to an Ebenezer Palmer, 
the said lease expiring in one year more, 
although the house was my aunPs to occupy 
at any time she pleased, and the lawyer ad- 
vised that she had better take possession as 
soon as possible. 

It was some time before it was decided 
that we were to go. Aunt Jane loved her 
little city home. Moreover, she had always 
lived near her brother and his family — the 
family consisting of a wife and one son, 
Thomas Lester, Jr. She was contented and 
did not like the idea of making any change. 
But I wished to go; I was restless and wanted 
to try something new. So it was finally de- 
cided that she and I should go. 

The farm house was all furnished just as 
Great-uncle had left it. All we had to do was 
to lock up our little city apartment and go 
with a few of our own belongings to the dis- 
tant farm. Letters had been exchanged be- 
tween this Ebenezer Palmer and Aunt Jane 


Round Hill Farm 


5 


until all arrangements had been made for 
our arrival. 

All my relatives had reasoned with me on 
the untimeliness of April for a sojourn in the 
country. It was not fashionable to go so 
early. But truth forces me to state that I 
usually end by having my own way in any- 
thing I want to do. 

I was wondering how the farm would look, 
when the conductor called out the name of 
the village which was our destination. I 
gathered what baggage fell to me and stepped 
out on the platform. The young man across 
the car had taken a suit case down from over- 
head and prepared to leave, so I concluded he 
had reached his destination, too. 

I found a comfortable comer in the waiting- 
room for Aunt Jane, then went to look after 
the baggage. I was examining a heap of 
tmnks, when a man from the opposite side of 
the platform hailed me. 

^'Say, Miss, be ye lookin^ for Ebenezer 
Palmer?’^ 

^^Yes, he was to meet us at the station.^^ 
Don^t ye worry, heUl be here pretty soon. 
Somethin^ has kep^ him. Vve got a wagon 
here for yer trunks, if you^ll tell me which 


6 


Round Hill Farm 


they be. I’ll try an’ have ’em up to the 
farm afore dark. There, that’s all, is it? 
Now, don’t ye worry, for Ebenezer’ll be 
here in the course of a few minutes.” 

The baggage disposed of, I walked up and 
down the platform several times, wondering 
about this Mr. Palmer. Finally, I grew 
impatient and went back to where the man 
was busy with the baggage and asked : 

^^Do you work for Ebenezer Palmer?” 

Yes, Miss, I’ve worked for him off an’ on 
quite a number o’ years.” 

I wanted to ask if he could tell me anything 
about this Mr. Palmer, when he anticipated 
the question. 

^‘Lan’, Miss, I’ve worked for him, an’ I’ve 
known him quite a spell, an’ he’s about as 
shrewd as they grow ’em up in our part o’ 
the country. He’s got a big farm o’ his own 
and improves the Lester farm besides. An’ 
that ain’t all. He’s a slick one on a trade; 
the feller that cheats Ebenezer has got to git 
up pretty early in the mornin’. Still, Miss, 
everybody likes Ebenezer. He’ll go out o’ 
his way any time to do his neighbor a kin’ness, 
an’ his wife is the best sort of a neighbor. 
They be a great help in times o’ sickness. 


Round Hill Farm 


7 


There, Miss, that^s him a-comin^ down the 
street. Now, I toF ye he^d be along pretty 
soon.’^ 

I looked and saw a large man in a two- 
seated carriage, driving a pair of spirited 
horses. As he came nearer I could see that 
he was smiling and had a jolly old face. I 
went back to the waiting-room where Aunt 
Jane was growing impatient at the delay. 

Mr. Palmer drove up close to the platform 
and stopped. Aunt and I hastened out to 
where he stood holding the horses. 

^‘Wa^al, ladies, be ye ole Mr. Lester^s 
relations whaPs goin’ up to the farm to live a 
spell?^’ he asked, after looking at us for an 
instant. 

^^Yes,^^ I answered. ^^Mr. Lester was our 
great-uncle.’’ 

“Wa’al, if that’s so, ye mus’ be the ladies 
I’m a-lookin’ fer. I’m Ebenezer Palmer. 
Ye got my letter sayin’ I’d meet ye at the 
depot, didn’t ye?” 

Yes, we were waiting for you,” I answered, 
wishing he would stop asking questions and 
get on up to the farm. 

^^I’m sorry I wasn’t here when the train 
cum in, but a lot o’ things bothered me — ^but 


8 


Round Hill Farm 


that don’t signify now. Ye git right into the 
carriage, an’ I’ll git ye up to the farm as soon 
as the bosses’ll carry ye thar.” 

We climbed into the carriage and were 
driven slowly down the village street. 

“Did ye understand about my havin’ a 
lease o’ the land fer a year, from the papers 
the lawyer sent ye?” he asked. 

“ Yes,” said Aunt Jane. “ It was explained 
sufficiently in the papers that uncle’s lawyer 
sent us.” 

“Wa’al, that air lawyer was our son Wil- 
liam. He looked arter all the ole man’s busi- 
ness, an’ did his writin’ — the most of it. So 
ye’ll understand that we be posted all about 
your great-uncle’s property. Ye can give me 
yer orders an’ I’ll see that they be attended 
to.” 

“It was very kind of Great-uncle to re- 
member us and we thank you, too.” 

“Don’t mention it; I’ve been paid fer all 
I’ll do, an’ we be glad ye have cum to live in 
in the ol’ house, an’ wife, she’ll be tickled 
nigh unto death to have some good neighbors 
livin’ in the ole place.” 

As we were driving slowly along, I saw the 
young man from the train once more. He 


Round HiU Farm 


9 


entered an open door and ran lightly up the 
stairs. I glanced at the row of windows 
along the second story of the building and 
concluded that the stairway led up to several 
offices. I read the different signs hung in the 
windows; then I saw the young man^s face 
once more at a window where a sign read — 
^^Wm. Elliott, Attorney-at-Law/^ He was 
looking at our carriage, and I wondered in a 
vague way why we attracted his attention. 

Mr. Palmer was still talking to Aunt Jane and 
was not paying much attention to his horses. 
Suddenly I became conscious of excitement 
along the street. All at once v.e were in the 
midst of a tangle of electric cars, motor cars, 
cabs and grocery wagons. It was impossible 
for Mr. Palmer to extricate us from the fast 
increasing jam, and I could see that he was 
greatly annoyed at his own carelessness. 

From every direction the people kept 
coming. A cloud of dust swept by. There 
was a burst of martial music. The very 
air was full of exhilaration and expect- 
ancy. Immediately a parade in all its glory 
was seen approaching, and with shouts of 
There it comes the boys rushed up the 
street. 


10 


Round Hill Farm 


Nearer and nearer it came. People 
rushed to the doors and windows. A moving 
mass swarmed around our carriage; we were 
surrounded on all sides as the crowd moved 
along with the show or whatever it was — I 
never found out — other things followed too 
fast. 

As the ^^boom!^' of the big drum became 
louder and closer, our horses began to fret. 
They were mettlesome at first, then they 
became wild with fright. They reared, they 
jumped, then reared again, growing more 
frightened every instant as the drum con- 
tinued to beat and the band played on. I 
was not afraid, but every muscle was braced 
to meet the end. Every nerve was vibrating. 
The farm was forgotten. 

^^DonT ye jump!’^ Mr. Palmer commanded 
us in a tone to be obeyed. He was using all 
his strength to keep the horses off the side- 
walk. I held Aunt Jane’s hand tightly, 
waiting for I knew not what. 

The horses crowded the carriage back 
against a telephone pole. There was a crash. 
A wheel had collapsed and my end of the 
carriage went down! 

I rolled out on the sidewalk dragging Aunt 


Round Hill Farm 


11 


Jane after me. My head struck the sharp 
edge of the stone curbing. I felt sick and 
faint. Everything grew dark; but I knew 
all that was said or done. 

Lord o’ Mighty! somebody look arter them 
women. I can’t let go these pesky bosses; if 
I do, someone else will be killed sure,” said 
Mr. Palmer, wildly excited for the moment. 

Aunt J ane managed to get up. She was not 
hurt. She saw that I was, but she is a woman 
that can be depended upon in an emergency. 

A man elbowed his way through the crowd, 
and Mr. Palmer exclaimed in a relieved tone 
of voice : 

William! Whar did ye cum from? Fur 
heaven sakes, take that gal out o’ this. I 
guess her head mus’ be busted. I see her 
when her head knocked agin that stun; better 
take her up to yer oflSce just as quick as ever 
ye can.” 

While the old man was talking, someone 
gathered me up. The onlookers drew back 
and let us through. Aunt Jane following. 
He entered an open doorway nearby and I 
was carried up the stairs into a room and 
gently laid on a couch. Then he opened a 
window and turned on the heat. I was glad 


12 


Round Hill Farm 


to be quiet for my head was still aching. A 
faint odor of cigar smoke hung about the 
room and among the cushions. There was an 
air of comfort about the large office with its 
rugs and cushions and the sunshine made it 
inviting. 

I could hear the music from the band 
coming faintly from up the street. The 
musicians seemed to have caught the joy and 
gladness that beamed from the faces all about 
them, and, with its overpowering splendor 
that filled the small boy^s soul with delight, 
the street parade moved on followed by the 
crowd. 

Shall I go for a doctor?’^ inquired the 
young man. 

^^No, not yet,’’ said Aunt Jane. '^Will 
you please bring my bag from the carriage?” 

He disappeared, and returned almost in- 
stantly with the bag. 

Aunt Jane had loosened my wraps; my hat 
had fallen off. 

He brought an overcoat from somewhere 
and covered me. Together they examined 
the bruise on my head, which was just over 
my right eye, and found that it wasn’t as 
serious as it appeared. The skin was broken 


Round Hill Farm 


13 


just enough to allow the wound to bleed freely 
and made it look worse than it really was. 
I didn^t care what they did; all I wanted was 
to go to sleep. 

I had some water/' suggested Aunt 

Jane. 

He disappeared again and returned from the 
adjoining room with a sponge, water and 
towel. 

Aunt Jane kept the damp sponge against 
the bruise. I lay perfectly still with my eyes 
closed, but the faintness and sickness at my 
stomach was disappearing. I was feeling 
better. 

^^Will you hold this sponge to keep the 
blood from running down her face while I 
look into my bag? I think I have some 
plaster." 

He was quickly down on one knee in front 
of the couch, and taking the sponge from 
Aunt Jane, began gently to bathe my head. 
I opened my eyes a little to see who it was 
that had been so good to us in our distress 
and, to my surprise, I recognized, despite 
the solemn look, the man from the train! 
My eyes opened wide with surprise. We 
looked into each other's eyes for just 


14 


Round Hill Farm 


an instant. he breathed, as though 

greatly relieved. 

you feel more comfortable? Is your 
head better?’^ 

^^Yes, much; I shall be all right now.’^ 
And I smiled comfortably and closed my eyes 
again. 

It made me feel a little self-conscious to 
have him looking at me so closely as he still 
held the sponge lightly against my head. I 
was thinking what a queer freak fortune had 
played in bringing us together. What would 
come of it? Would we be friends, or would 
our interest end with our leaving the office? 
The accident would delay us probably an 
hour or so but it would not be a tedious wait. 
I was sorry Mr. Palmer’s wagon was disabled, 
and I wondered how he would manage about 
our continuing our way. I was impatient to 
reach the end of our journey; still, my stay in 
this oflSce was interesting, to say the least. 

Drink this, Ruth; it will make your head 
clear again.” 

I took the glass; the young man hesitated 
an instant, ^^Let me help you,” and as he 
said this, slipped one arm under my pillow 
and raised me. I drank the contents of the 


Round Hill Farm 


16 


glass and sat up straight, as the supporting 
arm was removed. He brought a chair for 
Aunt Jane, then walked over to the window 
some distance away. 

One query filled my mind — who was the 
young man? He had been very good to us, 
whoever he was, and I wondered why Aunt 
Jane did not introduce herself. 

Were you hurt. Aunt Jane?^’ I asked. 

^^Not in the least, although you held my 
hand so tightly I was obliged to follow. Now, 
I will see if I can find a little plaster for that 
cut.” 

While she was looking for the plaster, I was 
busy with my eyes. It was just an ordinary 
office, clean and simply furnished. Boote 
were everywhere, but not in the confusion 
one expects to find in a bachelor^s apartment. 
But, was he a bachelor? _ 

Perhaps we were detaining a man who was 
impatient to get home to his family. 

'^We must go. Aunt Jane; we may be 
detaining this gentleman; perhaps he is in a 
hurry to get home to his family.” 

beg of you not to hurry; my mother 
does not live in town, and I was not intending 
to go home tonight. Please stay until another 


16 


Round Hill Farm 


carriage can be procured; I do not think it 
will be long/^ 

‘‘Then he is a bachelor/’ I assured myself. 
‘^That was easily answered.” 

It occurred to me suddenly what a fright I 
must look. My hair was loose and very much 
dishevelled. I put my hand up to my head 
to feel its confusion and tried to look into a 
mirror that hung on the opposite wall over 
an office desk. It was tilted in such a way 
as to permit me to see the young man by the 
window. He was unconscious of my in- 
spection, and I studied the reflection furtively 
as I arranged the loosened hair pins. He 
was looking at me as if in a dream. There 
was both admiration and mischief in the look, 
and I wondered if he had never seen a woman 
dress her hair before. 

Someone was coming up the stairs; the 
door flew open and Mr. Palmer stood in the 
doorway. 

How be ye gittin’ along? How’s the gal? 
Has she come to her senses yit?” 

“ Yes, Mr. Palmer, I have come to my senses 
all right, and I am so sorry I have made so 
much trouble.” I laughed aloud at the look 
of relief on the wrinkled old face. He came 


Round Hill Farm 


17 


into the room and the young man from the 
train walked over and closed the door. 

'^Wa^al, I’m glad ye be better.” Then 
turning to the young man he asked, ‘^Whar 
in canopy did ye come from, William? The 
last time ye wrote, ye was out West some- 
whar.” 

came on the train that brought these 
ladies. I had been in the office only a few 
minutes when I saw the accident from the 
window.” 

^'Ye did; wa’al, I did need a bit o’ help 
about then. I say, do ye know who these 
ladies be?” 

^^N“0, we haven’t been introduced yet.” 

^^Why, bless my soul! These ladies be 
old Mr. Lester’s relations what’s goin’ to live 
in the ol’ house; and, ladies, this is our son 
William.” 

We are more than grateful to your son for 
helping us out of the crowd and for loaning us 
this office for a little while. Is this the lawyer 
we have been corresponding with?” 

Yes, that’s him.” 

Please do not thank me; it has been no 
trouble,” the young man replied hastily. It 
has made me very happy to know the ladies 


18 


Round Hill Farm 


^what^s goin’ to live in the oF house/ he 
added laughingly, his eyes dancing as he 
quoted with delicious imitation the old man’s 
words. 

Aunt Jane murmured acknowledgment of 
the courteous reply. 

Yes,” I said, “it will be a joy and a relief 
to Mr. Palmer when he finally lands us safely 
at the farm. It was very ridiculous of me to 
faint, but that curbing was hard! Now, Mr. 
Palmer,” I continued, addressing the young 
man. 

“His name ain’t Palmer, it’s Elliott,” 
said the old man. “ I’m his step-father. His 
mother was a widder with this boy — let me 
think — he was nigh unto eight year old 
when — ” 

“How about the carriage,” interrupted the 
young man who evidently did not feel like 
hearing his own history just then, “have you 
made arrangements for them to continue 
their journey?” 

“I have, an’ ye can go just as soon as ye 
feel like it. I hope we can finish the trip 
without any of us gittin’ our heads busted open. 
Say, young lady, how many stars did ye see 
about the time yer head struck the curbin’?” 


Round Hill Farm 


19 


"Billions, as near as I could make out!^^ 

"Ye did!^’ chuckled the old man. "Wa'al, 
ye looked a bit limp when William was a-goin’ 
upstairs with ye. Why, bless my stars, boy, 
I never was so glad to see ye before! I had 
too many responsibilities fur one ordinary man 
about then.” 

"It was very kind of him to bring me up 
here away from that mob,” and I smiled 
serenely up into his *face. 

"Yes, so good of you; but we must not 
trouble you any longer,” Aunt Jane added. 

"That’s all right; it was no trouble; I was 
glad to be of service. Please say no more 
about it,” he expostulated gallantly; "but if 
you wish to be at the farm before nightfall, 
you must be on the road as soon as possible.” 

The two men stood at the window talking 
as Aunt Jane and I prepared to leave, and I 
took a good look at them. Mr. Palmer, I 
should say, was about sixty years old, tall and 
muscular, with the stoutness that goes with 
middle age. His face was wrinkled and 
brown; one realized instantly that he had 
lived an outdoor life. He had a strong chin, 
while the mouth with its upturned comers 
indicated a keen sense of humor; his walk was 


20 


Round Hill Farm 


firm and his erect carriage told of strength. 
His clothes, somewhat worn, had a loose, 
easy fit: his cap with ear-lappits and his 
buckskin mittens showed that spring was not 
sufficiently advanced to discard the winter 
paraphernalia. 

The two men were about the same height. 
The son was possibly twenty-seven or eight — 
tall, muscular and comely. He had a clear 
skin, his hands were brown but shapely 
and he appeared like a person accustomed to 
the ways of the world. I liked the strength in 
the broad shoulders that had carried me 
upstairs so easily, and his well-modulated 
voice was pleasant to hear; but the eyes — 
well, every time I saw them they were twink- 
ling with merriment. 

^^Be ye a-goin^ up to the farm with us, 
William? There’s plenty of room. I’ve got 
another carriage with two seats.” 

I do, I shall be obliged to come back 
again tomorrow, some time. There is a little 
business that must be attended to; I can’t 
put it off any longer.” 

'^Better come. It will do yer mother a 
sight o’ good even if ye can’t stay but one 
night.” 


Round Hill Farm 


21 


He hesitated a moment and then said, 
^^All right, if it will not discommode the 
ladies any/' 

I can't make out how you two women be 
related," continued Mr. Palmer. 

am Miss Jane Lester, the one who has 
inherited the farm, and this is my niece, Ruth 
Lester. Her father was my brother. He 
and his wife both died when Ruth was a 
little girl and we have lived together ever 
since." 

^^Ah, that be easy 'nuf. Now I see; ye've 
been kind o' a mother and father both to her/^ 


CHAPTER II 


Soon we were driving slowly along the 
busy street again. All signs of the parade had 
vanished. 

Aunt Jane rode along in silence after we 
left the village and were out in the open 
country. 

^^How dreary/^ she said. Everything 
looked brown, bare and water-soaked to her, 
but not so to me. Here and there were 
patches of green grass, where the April sun 
had lingered the longest; the buds on the 
maple trees were beginning to swell, and in 
some places their bare limbs were tipped with 
red. 

At last the carriage wound up a long hill, 
and stopped in front of a great, rambling 
structure on the very top of the hill. 

^^Here we be,’^ said Mr. Palmer. 

Both men climbed out of the carriage; the 
young one came to our assistance, but I did 
not make any move to leave the carriage. 

22 



“The carriage stopped in front of a great rambling structure’ 






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Round Hill Farm 


23 


^'Look, Aunt Jane, look! Our house and 
our view! Aren^t we glad we came!^^ (Mr. 
Elliott smiled in sympathy, but I did not 
pay much attention to him.) ^^Our viewT' I 
repeated. 

There in the distance stretched before me, 
as far as the eye could see, brown meadows 
sloping to a picturesque valley; dark green 
cedars grew along the plain; then up the 
steep hillside beyond the valley grew shrubs 
and evergreens and beyond these were the 
gaunt outlines of the leafless trees, in the 
haphazard grouping of the forest. The house 
was situated on a hill, so high one could look 
for miles over the country to the purple line 
of the far-away hills. And the old house — 
I loved it from the first moment I saw 
it. 

‘^Ruth, will you come?’^ called Aunt Jane, 
with impatience. 

Mr. Elliott helped me out of the carriage, 
and we followed the others into the house. 
I wished for good luck as I stepped over the 
threshold, and then I had a feeling that 
something good, some great happiness would 
come to me here in this old house. Perhaps 
it was childish and superstitious, but I did 


24 


Round Hill Farm 


have a peculiar feeling. Fate, or whatever 
it was, made it known to me that something 
waited for me here in this out-of-the-way 
corner of the world. 

guess yell find the house right com- 
fortable. IVe had fires goin^ in all the rooms 
like steam injines about all day,'^ said the old 
man. ^^Ye two women needn^t feel afraid, 
cuz I got a family livin^ over the carriage 
house. James will help ye with the garden 
and sich, an^ Susan will work in the kitchen 
and,^^ he continued volubly, ^'111 go call 
Susan now, if ye say so.^’ 

Please do,’' said Aunt Jane; and the 
hospitable old man went out of the kitchen 
door to summon our help. 

After the two men had taken their de- 
parture, we looked the house over more 
thoroughly and decided upon the rooms 
we were to occupy, and I commenced to un- 
pack our belongings, singing ^^Home, Sweet 
Home” at the top of my voice. 

When the expressman arrived with our 
trunks, I went out to call James, and I felt 
instantly that there was something queer 
about Wm. He looked as if he had seen 
better days. Whether it was his voice, his 


Round Hill Farm 


25 


manner, or the way in which he dressed, I was 
unable to determine then, but intuition or 
woman’s natural instinct warned me that 
there was something out of the ordinary about 
James. 


CHAPTER III 


The next morning I opened my eyes and 
saw the sun shining in at the open window. 
Birds were singing sweetly in the shrubbery 
and I could hear Aunt Jane moving about 
downstairs. I jumped out of bed and 
dressed, now and then stopping to look out 
of the window. I could not seem to keep 
away from it. I could see a long distance; 
down, down, over miles of woodland and 
meadow. The air was delightful, and I 
resigned myself to the delicious languor of 
the spring day. I realized then that I had 
always wanted to live in the country. 

Along the valley where the dark green 
cedar trees grew, hung a dense cloud of mist; 
but over this the sun was shining clear, 
radiant and still, and I thought I saw all the 
brightness and promise of a happy summer. 

How long I stood there by the window 
dreaming, I knew not, when I became con- 
scious of a commotion below. Aunt Jane 
26 


Round Hill Farm 


27 


was pumping water at the well for our morning 
coffee. The old-fashioned, long-handled dip- 
per floated on the water in the pail like a tiny 
ship at sea. She and I both saw Susan run 
out of the kitchen door (she had come in to 
help Aunt Jane get the breakfast) and hurry 
to the bam. I leaned out of the window, 
wondering what she was after. 

Smoke was pouring out of the kitchen 
door and windows, growing thicker and blacker 
every instant. Two men came mnning from 
the bam, followed by Susan. They were Mr. 
Elliott and James. They disappeared through 
the kitchen door. Aunt Jane took the pail of 
water as far as the doorstep, where she 
abandoned it and then disappeared from 
my view through the kitchen door. 

Then it occurred to me that the house must 
be on fire. Sounds of pounding and other noises 
came up to me. I hastily finished dressing 
and fairly flew down the front stairs, along 
the hall, opened the door that led into the 
kitchen and peeped in. It was the stove 
pipe that had come apart and the smoke was 
pouring out in clouds. I never saw so long 
a stove pipe anywhere, except in a country 
church. Great-uncle must have had peculiar 


28 


Round Hill Farm 


ideas on the subject of kitchen stove pipes. 
Be that as it may, it had come to grief, and 
the two men were trying to repair the damage. 

Mr. Elliott stood on a chair facing me, holding 
up the hot end, his hands protected by Aunt 
Jane’s clean kitchen apron, which was being 
scorched, judging from the odor. James was 
perched on the big wood-box. They both 
banged and hammered away at the pipe, but 
it refused to join. Mr. Elliott stood firm in 
his chair, but James put too much strength 
and energy into the job so that each time he 
struck the pipe the wood-box tipped danger- 
ously. It was a most trying time; one end 
slipped in and the other out. Smoke con- 
tinued to pour forth and made their eyes 
smart. They coughed and sneezed and mut- 
tered and banged. 

James, a meek looking man I thought 
the night before, lost his temper and began 
to swear roundly and loudly. If Mr. Elliott 
did, I could not hear him above the din. I 
saw him look around — possibly to see if I was 
there — with a startled look on his face which 
changed to a sort of satisfaction when he 
resumed his work. All this time James was 
balanced on the edge of the wood-box as 


Round Hill Farm 


29 


it rocked perilously to and fro with every 
move he made. 

Now give it a good bang/’ he commanded, 
and struck the pipe a blow with all his 
might. 

Down came several joints of the pipe. 
Soot and smoke poured out all over him and 
everything else. He lost his balance. The 
woodbox and contents tipped over and he fell 
in a heap on the floor, the soot still dribbling 
from the end of the gaping length of the 
pipe that hung in mid-air. 

^^Fire! Fire!” screamed Aunt Jane. Susan 
flew to the doorstep, seized the pail of water 
Aunt Jane had left there a few minutes before 
and threw the contents over the prostrate 
James. 

Poor James! Tears of rage and pain ran 
down his cheeks. He coughed, choked and 
sneezed. After he regained his breath, oaths 
of the most startling kind poured forth from 
his mouth. Up and down the scale of 
profanity he went with the ease of a master 
musician. Susan told me afterwards that 
James had been a “sea-farin’ man” in his 
younger days. 

Mr. Elliott still stood on his chair con- 


30 


Round Hill Farm 


viilsed with laughter. This angered James 
the more, if such a thing were possible. He 
glared at the young man through streaks of 
nasty, greasy soot, his chin trembled, his 
eyes were like coals of fire. Then he turned 
his eyes on poor Susan. There was murder 
in the look. 

Woman! What do you mean by trying 
to drown me?’^ 

Please, sir, I didn^t. I thought you was 
on fire.’^ 

Thought he hissed through his teeth. 

Thought! What a fool!^^ and he savagely 
kicked the chair Mr. Elliott was standing on. 
The young man, unprepared for the attack, 
lost his balance, swayed back and forth waving 
his arms wildly for a few seconds and then 
down he went in a ridiculous heap, sprawling 
over James, the soot and the wood-box. This 
was too much for the chagrined James. Both 
men were on their feet almost instantly. 
They glared at each other and there was rage 
in the eyes of each. James was a comical 
looking object; streaks of water and soot were 
running down his face and his hair looked 
as though his scalp were loose. Finally Mr. 
Elliott extended his hand. 


Round Hill Farm 


31 


''I am sorry, James, but you kicked my 
chair and made me add to your troubles/’ 
He went on with grim humor, ^^It was awk- 
ward of me, I know.” Then he laughed a 
clear, ringing laugh that bespoke supreme 
confidence in his right to enjoy himself. 

^'All right, but if that stovepipe is ever 
fixed, you can get it done. I swear I won’t 
touch it again,” and James walked to the 
door angry and confused over the events of 
the last few moments. 

^^Oh!” wailed Aunt Jane. ^^Look at this 
kitchen! What a mess!” 

Just then Mr. Palmer appeared on the 
scene. He met James at the door. 

^'Why, what in canopy ails ye, James? 
Ye look as if ye had been playing wild In jin 
on the war path to amuse the ladies. Ye got 
the war paint on rather streaked, didn’t ye? 
Was the ladies amused?” 

“Go to thunder!” roared James with a 
mad rush to the bam. 

“Wa’al, an’ here is William! Be ye in the 
play, too? Oh, I see! The stovepipe cum 
down. What a mess — soot all over every- 
thing! Where did the water cum from? 
Did the pipe belch water as well as soot an’ 


32 


Round Hill Farm 


smoke? I never see the beat it. Do 
explain it to me, William.’’ 

^^Oh!” wailed Aunt Jane again; ^'What a 
looking kitchen!” 

Yes’m, that’s so. Does look rather 
messed up; but I never see a stovepipe act 
like that in a dry spell. But don’t ye worry, 
ma’am. I’ll have the stove man from town 
cum right up an’ fix the consamed thing, 
an’ I’ll git a woman that’ll be glad of the 
job to clean up the kitchen. There ain’t 
no use in worryin’ over things that can’t be 
helped.” 

'^But how are we going to make our cof- 
fee? We haven’t had any breakfast yet,” 
she was the picture of distress as she looked 
up into his good-natured face. 

^‘That’s easy. You an’ the gal cum right 
over to our house. Wife’ll be tickled nigh 
unto death to have ye.” 

^^No, no! We couldn’t think of putting 
her to so much trouble,” replied Aunt Jane. 

Yes, ye can, too. I’ll go right along now 
an’ tell her ye’re cornin’. William, here, 
will wait an’ show ye the way.” 

^^Yes,” responded the young man, assur- 
ingly. Mother will be dehghted to have you.” 


Round Hill Farm 


33 


am sure I don't know what to do. I 
think I will call Ruth." 

The subject of breakfast had interested me, 
so I had opened the door more than I realized. 
Mr. Elliott's quick eye saw me and he came 
towards the door. I flew along the hall but 
he was too swift for me. He came up and 
checked my flight. 

Caught, Miss Lester; caught in the act of 
peeping into your own kitchen. And now 
tell me, what have you to say for yourself?" 
and the triumphant face of young Elliott was 
smiling down at me. 

^'Nothing. I plead guilty." 

'^How much of the stovepipe episode did 
you witness?" he asked as we walked out on 
the veranda. 

'^Just about all of it!" 

^^Then you found out that James can be 
fluent in his conversation when he is excited." 

^'Oh yes, rather! If I had been in his 
place when Susan threw the water on him — 
well, James certainly did rise to the occasion 
grandly. Such spontaneous inventiveness I 
never heard before." 

^^Then you are not offended? Remember 
he is an old man. I am sorry, but he may 


34 


Round Hill Farm 


never get so excited again. Father has his 
mind set on keeping him. In other words, 
^He is the man with the farm.^ Father will 
be good to you if you get along with James. 
To have him go would annoy him very much. 
I thought I would tell you this and you can 
do as you like about talking to your aunt 
about it. Susan is different. I think she 
will be glad to earn a little extra money by 
helping your aunt.^^ 

^^Yes, that will be all right. I won^t pay 
any attention to him whatever.^' I was 
thinking about my meeting him the afternoon 
before. 

^^That will be doing my father a great 
kindness. Now if your aunt is ready, we will 
find out if my mother has any breakfast.^' 

I went to the kitchen and found Aunt Jane. 
Mr. Elliott followed us down the path that 
winds througli the garden. Beyond, the 
meadow and woodland lay quiet under the 
bright blue of an April sky. The sun was 
bright and warm. The breeze was soft and 
balmy. We walked in silence on through 
the^ sweet morning air listening to the soft, 
plaintive notes of a bluebird perched on the 
bare limb of a maple tree. 


Round Hill Farm 


35 


I thought, ^^all this morning has 
been lost/^ I had planned the night b^efore 
to explore that little bit of woodland just 
beyond the meadow. 

I thought it quite a walk to Mr. Palmer’s 
that morning, but before many weeks were 
over it seemed only a stone’s throw — 
traveled the path so often. 

Mr. Palmer met us at the gate smiling, as 
usual. 

'^Wa’al, hurry right along. Wife be a- 
waitin’ for ye.” 

We followed him in. Mrs. Palmer wel- 
comed us simply and kindly. She was a 
dear, sweet woman. I loved her almost 
instantly. She was rather tall, fair and 
slight, and quite an invalid. 

What a breakfast! Hot rolls as light as 
down, coffee with cool, rich, yellow cream, 
cold chicken — and oh, wasn’t I hungry! It 
seemed to me at one time as though I never 
would stop eating, but all good things have 
a way of coming to an end. 

'^Have ye got rested any arter yer trip?” 
inquired Mr. Palmer, after we had finished 
our breakfast and gone to the living 
room. 


36 


Round Hill Farm 


Quite rested, thank you,’^ answered Aunt 
Jane. 

^^Did Susan cum in to help ye before the 
stove pipe busted 

'^Do ye think she^ll do to help ye right 
along?^^ 

'a think so.^^ 

'^Glad on't. I thought sheM do when I 
hired her; but James— wa’al, there^s one 
thing agin James, he parts his hair in the 
middle, an’ as I tol’ wife, here — partin’ the 
hair in the middle don’t gen’ally go with 
farmin’. According to my calc’lations it 
shows that a man’s like to be a leetle above his 
business.” 

Maybe it will not this time,” I laughed, 
and I saw William and his mother exchange 
amused smiles. 

How do ye like the looks o’ the farm now 
ye have seen it? Does it cum up to yer 
idees?” 

It is better than I dreamed, and I dreamed 
it was about right.” 

wan’ter know!” Here he settled down 
in his chair, took out his pipe and began 
jamming the tobacco down hard. I’m sorry 


Round Hill Farm 


37 


I didn’t git over an’ help when yer trunks 
cum las’ night; but, ye see, I was busy with a 
boss trade, so it slipped my mind, an’ William, 
here, didn’t know nothin’ ’bout that they was 
cornin’.” 

James was there and helped, so we man- 
aged very nicely,” I said. 

^^Ye see, when I git mixed up in a boss 
trade, I’m like to forgit everythin’. I have 
to be pretty shrewd to keep every department 
of farmin’ goin’.” 

^^Hum!” — and he gave a little chuckling 
laugh. 

^^Ye see, I traded bosses with a Dago 
peddler, and that good-fur-nothin’ son o’ 
Italy cum back las’ night an’ wanted to trade 
back; said the boss was balky an’ lame, both. 
^No, siree,’ I tol’ him, ^I didn’t do no boy’s 
swappin’. When I trade I alius ’bide by the 
cons’quences.’ An’ I vow, I couldn’t help 
laughin’ to see him go away down the road, 
a-cussin’ an’ a-threatenin’ to have the law on 
me.” 

^^Do you suppose he will?” I inquired, 
deeply interested in the story and Mr. Palmer 
both. 

'‘No, I guess not. Can’t no consarned son 


38 


Round Hill Farm 


o’ Italy scare me, ’cause I’ve got the law in 
my own family. William, here, ye know, 
attends to all my law jobs free o’ charge.” 
The last he added with a grin at the young 
man. 

I could not tell what the young man thought 
for he stood looking out of the window with 
his back to me, but there was an amused 
smile around the corners of his mother’s 
mouth. 

Soon after we bade them good-bye and 
went home across the fields. 

^^How do you like Mr. Palmer?” Aunt 
Jane asked when we were nearly home, and 
after a minute, I answered: 

^^I think I like him very much, and what 
is more to the point, he seems inclined to be 
very good to us.” 

^^Yes, they certainly have been, to us, but 
life on a farm is lonesome at best.” 

^•'That depends,” I said, ^'on one’s own 
point of view — on one’s mental condition.” 

Yes, in a way I suppose it does.” 

^^And,” I continued, ^^my mental con- 
dition is such as to make me feel that I shall 
love every minute of the summer that is 
coming.” 


Round Hill Farm 


39 


She smiled, and if she had any premon- 
itions as to what the summer was to mean to 
her she kept them to herself. I, too, felt that 
there was something in store for us both. 


CHAPTER IV 


The days following were filled with joy 
and gladness. Daily I sent glowing letters to 
our friends in the city, elaborating vastly 
upon the wonders of the farm. All day long 
I was out-of-doors. The warm spring days 
charmed me. It was not surprising that I 
was entranced; the trees, the shrubs and the 
fiowers were offering their greatest attrac- 
tions. 

Mr. Palmer^s family and we soon became 
excellent friends. We ceased to care about 
how we were dressed, or at what time of day 
or by which door we entered each other’s 
houses. Mr. Palmer often took me with him 
when he went on long drives about the coun- 
try. They were constantly making plans 
for our comfort and happiness. We slid 
easily into a new life, and it was a very simple 
one, far from the din and hurry of the city and 
from the world of conventionality. 

Aunt Jane was housekeeper and I was 
40 



My cousin Tom Lester sent me a beautiful collie dog” 


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t 









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v* V. . 




. a^‘ 


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Round Hill Farm 


41 


farmer or gardener or anything else I chose 
to be. She and Mrs. Palmer spent many 
hours together. Oftentimes she would go 
with me about the farm, but she was not 
interested in the wonderful things that were 
growing all around us so I gave up asking her 
to go. Then my cousin Tom Lester sent me 
a beautiful collie dog as a companion. We 
soon became great friends. His look of 
wisdom was comical when I explained to him 
my plans for the summer. I preferred to 
talk to the dog rather than to James, for if I 
changed my plans the man had a way of 
muttering to himself, and very often I could 
make out the word ^^fooF^ and '^all women 
know.^^ 

One warm afternoon Aunt Jane and I 
were busy on the veranda. We were talking 
about Great-uncle, and Aunt Jane was won- 
dering if he had any money. It seemed 
as though he should have had as the farm 
seemed to pay under Mr. Palmer^s man- 
agement. 

Susan says,^^ she remarked, Mr. Palmer 
took good care of our uncle in his last 
sickness, and she has reasons to believe 
that Uncle gave Mr. Palmer all his money; 


42 


Round Hill Farm 


she says that all the neighbors thought our 
uncle had quite a large fortune/^ 

^‘Did they? Well, I don't care whether it 
was large or small. It was good of him to 
remember us and give us this farm. We 
never did anything for him; we can at least 
be thankful for what we did get." A vision 
of uncle dying all alone when his kin were but 
a few hours' ride away was one I could not 
contemplate with any degree of comfort. 

I happened to look up at James as Aunt 
Jane went into the house. He was looking 
intently at me. His blue eyes had a way of 
fastening themselves on one's face and pro- 
ducing a feeling not easily shaken off. He 
had been busy digging around the vines by 
the veranda. Again I realized that there was 
something about the man that made me feel 
queer. He served us with a grave deference 
and I liked his humility. Still, there was a 
bewildering something. He did not resemble 
his sister Susan in any way. She was an 
ideal servant, but James was not very ener- 
getic. Then he made me feel as though he 
had been a man of the world from his 
youth. He was tall; his features were good; 
he must have been remarkably handsome in 


Round Hill Farm 


43 


his younger days. I wondered where Mr. 
Palmer had found them. Susan avoided the 
question when she was asked where she lived 
before this summer. Mr. Palmer must have 
considered them trustworthy people or he 
would not have engaged them to work for two 
lone women. I felt convinced that whatever 
the mystery was the Palmers did not want us 
to know. 

^^Well/' I thought, ^‘1 am not afraid. I 
will wait. Aunt Jane evidently has not the 
feeling about James that I have and I will 
say nothing about it to her for fear of making 
her nervous. She don’t seem to take any 
notice of him whatever. The summer has 
only begun,” I mused. Farming may turn 
out a very exciting occupation. I shall cer- 
tainly keep my eye on James. A mystery 
will make life on the farm more interesting. 
I think I should rather have a mystery than 
a ghost, as we are two lone women in a big 
house. Of course, I have that silver-trimmed 
revolver that Cousin Tom gave me before we 
left the city, but that would not help much 
in the case of a ghost.” 

William Elliott had deserted his rooms in 
the city and had taken upon himself the privi- 


44 


Round Hill Farm 


lege of bringing our mail. Occasionally Mr. 
Palmer would come over and help in our 
garden, observing once that James has 
done very well so far if he does part his hair 
in the middle!^’ 

One day James and I were working in the 
garden transplanting a bed of little zinnias. 
Suddenly there came up one of those wind 
storms such as people living on a hilltop 
become familiar with. It swept over the 
garden as though let loose from somewhere all 
at once, upsetting the basket of flowers and 
bending the young plants close to the ground. 
Off went James^ hat, his smoothly arranged 
hair tossing about in confusion, and as it 
lifted up the long locks I saw snow-white 
hair underneath! 

^^The blond hair, then,^^ I said to myself, 
'^is part of the mystery. He wears a wig! 
But why did the Palmer family keep us in 
darkness?’^ — for I felt convinced that they 
knew. This added intensity to my curiosity. 

The third of a succession of rainy days 
was just ending. I built up a cheerful fire 
in the open chimney to dry up the dampness. 
The lamps were lighted and I was curled up 
in a large arm-chair that Great-uncle used to 


Round Hill Farm 


45 


sit in (so Susan said) and which Aunt Jane 
had re-upholstered in chintz with great 
red poppies nmning in confusion all over it. 
I was leaning back with my hands folded 
lazily in my lap listening to the wind and 
rain outdoors, well satisfied with the warmth 
and coziness of the room. As I watched the 
fire blaze up, sending up showers of sparks, 
I became lost in a reverie. My thoughts 
drifted back to Great-uncle and I wondered 
why he gave Aunt Jane the farm and whether 
we were pleasing him — if he knew — ^by living 
in the old house, when I was roused by foot- 
steps on the veranda. Aunt Jane hurried to 
the door and there stood Mr. Elliott, very 
wet with a bundle of letters and papers. He 
tried to take his hat off but the gale did that 
for him and put out the light. 

^^Come in — and hurry!” cried Aunt Jane, 
good-naturedly. 

He came into the hall and she closed the 
door behind him. I think she was par- 
ticularly glad to see him this evening and 
hoped to have company on so lonesome an 
evening. 

am very wet. It is too bad! May I 
go to the kitchen and take off this dripping 


46 


Round Hill Farm 


coat? I know the way — then I can attend 
to this mail/^ 

wish you would/^ I said, still sitting in 
the great chair. 

He disappeared down the hall to the kitchen 
while Aunt Jane hurried to re-light the lamp. 
In a minute he was back again. 

he said, as he stood in the doorway 
and lookea into the room. ^‘How you have 
changed this room. It does not look like the 
same place. You have made it a perfect 
lighthouse to Mother. I do not think you 
realize how it cheers her to look over and see 
the blinds open and sometimes the windows 
up, and in the evening, a bright light 
shining out.’^ 

I have tried to make it a fit place to live 
in,^' said my Aunt Jane. 

^^Poor Aunt! she is like the hen that moth- 
ered the little duck.’^ 

'^It has been rather damp even for ducks. 
You find these rainy days rather long, don’t 
you?” he asked, as he sat down in a big chair 
opposite me which Aunt Jane had moved 
close to the fire. 

^^No, I haven’t yet, but Aunt Jane does.” 

''Now Ruth, you know the doctor said 


Round Hill Farm 


47 


you must be out in the sun and air all you 
can, so I am willing to stay as long as it is 
necessary/’ And she began poking the fire 
with the tongs. 

^Tan’t I do that for you?” Mr. Elliott 
asked, reaching for the tongs and at the same 
time casting a quick, anxious look at me. 

'^No; what the fire needs is more wood.” 

Can’t I get it?” 

^^You sit still. I’d rather get it myself,” 
replied Aunt Jane as she started up and 
hastened to the kitchen. 

^^This is what I call cozy,” Mr. Elliott 
remarked as he stretched his feet to the fire 
and settled down with an air of contentment 
such as one feels before a wood fire in an open 
chimney and listens to the wind and rain 
outside. 

We sat in silence and watched the fire for a 
minute; then I said, ^^I’m afraid James is a 
lazy servant.” 

^^Why?” he asked, looking up in sur- 
prise. 

Because he will let Susan and me bring 
in wood until our backs almost break and 
never offer to help.” 

will have someone sent over to do it.” 


48 


Round Hill Farm 


^^Why not speak to James? He’s the one 
to do it.” 

'^W-e-1-1,” he drawled, hesitatingly, do 
not like to interfere with any of father’s 
arrangements.” There was a twinkle of mis- 
chief in his eyes. 

'^Oh, I understand. You are afraid James 
will disarrange that beautiful blonde wig!” 

A what? I beg your pardon, but do you 
mean to tell me that James wears a wig?” 

‘^Yes, his hair is as white as snow under 
that blonde work of art.” 

Ah, Miss Lester, if there is anything 
funny you are sure to see or know about it.” 

^^Why do you suppose he wears a wig?” I 
asked, as I glanced at my companion. 

'‘Maybe he wears it to improve his looks. 
Possibly he is contemplating matrimony — 
who knows?” and he laughed a wholesome, 
cheering laugh. 

"Who knows?” I repeated to myself, "You 
do but will not tell.” Aunt Jane entered the 
room with the wood at this juncture and she 
and Mr. Elliott talked about her beloved city 
for a little while, then she let him out the 
kitchen door, for it was more sheltered from 
the wind and rain. 


Round Hill Farm 


49 


When they went to the kitchen something 
impelled me to go to the window and look out. 
The room I was in had no other light than 
that reflected from the Are for Aunt Jane had 
taken the lamp. A faint sound arrested my 
attention and the next instant a shaft of 
light from the kitchen shone on the figure of . a 
man moving stealthily off the veranda, and I 
felt quite sure it was James. Who was he 
watching — Mr. Elliott or us? 

I sat down in the chair again by the fire 
greatly perplexed with this latest devel- 
opment. He must be employed by some- 
one to watch our movements — there must 
be something of value in the house. This 
seemed a foolish idea and I decided to 
bother about it no longer that night, I went 
to bed, but not to sleep. For a long time I 
speculated upon what had occurred during 
the evening. I recalled Mr. Elliott^s merry 
laugh and the mischief in his eyes when I 
told him that James wore a wig; then the 
day the stovepipe fell and he said that his 
father was interested in James and would 
be much annoyed to have James go away. 

I thought of appeaUing either to Mr. 
Elliott or Mr. Palmer but dismissed the 


50 


Round Hill Farm 


idea and never regretted the decision. I was 
not afraid of James. Somehow I was sure 
he meant no harm to us; yet, I felt that it 
meant treachery or evil of some kind and 
determined more strongly than ever that I 
would keep my eye on him and find out if I 
could. During the day I saw James often. 
I was on the alert for any sign of perturbation 
in him, but I was disappointed. He went 
about his work as placid and innocent-looking 
as usual. I saw that I must wait until he 
should throw himself more boldly into the 
game. In the meantime I decided to question 
Susan. 

After a long talk on other subjects I asked 
her where James learned his deferential way 
of addressing people. 

She was silent a few seconds, and then as 
though weighing every word, she replied. 

think. Miss Lester, his being a sailor 
in his younger days made him used to people. 
Perhaps you don’t know that he sailed to a 
great many far countries, but,” and with a 
flash of anger in her eyes, '^he don’t dare to 
put on his high and mighty ways to me! He 
was just as poor as other people and I know 
he eats just as much cranberry sass without 


Round Hitt Farm 


61 


any sugar in it as ever I did — so now!” With 
this parting outburst of wrath, she went off 
into the house. 

It seemed that there was to be no help 
from Susan in solving the mystery which 
surely involved this strange character. 


CHAPTER V 


^^June/’ Ebenezer Palmer said, the 
month for garden sass to grow and roses to 
bloom.’^ 

I had watched the sowing of the grain in 
the field; the planting of the vegetable and 
flower garden. I had asked all the questions 
I could think of and learned a few things 
— not many but enough to make me feel 
encouraged — and I was still in love with the 
farm. 

One day Mr. Palmer invited Aunt Jane and 
me over to his house in the evening to hear a 
'talkin’ machine.^^ Finding out that the 
old man had never heard one, we decided to go, 
feeling sure his remarks would be worth hear- 
ing. We walked over in the early evening. A 
number of people were sitting around the 
room, several of whom I had never seen 
before. The man that owned the machine 
sat by a table where the instrument was 
placed all ready to begin. 


Round Hill Farm 


53 


Mr. Elliott came in and sat down just 
behind Aunt Jane and me. He talked in a 
low tone to us until the music began, and, as 
he caught a glimpse of his father's face he 
whispered, as an amused smile spread over 
his own : 

^'You want to keep an eye on Father. He 
will be great fun. This is something new to 
him and he is likely to get somewhat excited." 

After the machine was started Mrs. Palmer 
motioned to her husband to come and sit 
down. 

The old man's face was a study from the 
first. 

vum!" he ejaculated, ^^It do beat all! 
Say, Wife, it's most human, ain't it?" 

But his wife did not answer, so he appealed 
to me. 

^^Did ye ever hear the beat o' that?" 

Never!" I breathed, not daring to look at 
anyone. 

^^The old man's taking it pretty hard," 
the son whispered close to my ear. 

^'Everybody Works but Father," sang the 
machine, and the look on the old man's face 
made us both giggle disgracefully. Nearly 
everybody in the room began to hum and keep 


54 


Round Hill Farm 


time with their feet. The machine kept such 
excellent time that each foot came down 
with the same jubilant beat. 

Moses an^ the prophets! Wam^t that 
ableT^ exclaimed Mr. Palmer. '^That^s all 
right. Say, Mister, play that ^un ag^in, will 

yer^ 

'^Do keep still, Ebenezer!^’ I heard his wife 
say in an undertone, after which he listened 
in comparative silence while the machine 
ground out selection after selection. It was 
next to impossible, though, for him to smother 
all expression, for low murmurs of approval 
continued to issue from his mouth while 
delight and appreciation shone in his eyes, 
and his face changed from mirth to sadness 
with the variations in the music. 

'^Them songs do make me think of oP 
times. I was thinkin^ as I sot here list'nin^, 
what some of th’ old men (I mean the men 
that was oP when I was young) would say 
if they could cum back an' hear this machine 
perform all kinds of music an' sing all kinds 
of songs." 

guess they would be astonished," replied 
someone. 

Yes, I wouldn't be s'prised. Ye've heard 


Round Hill Farm 55 

of old Deacon Jot?'’ he inquired of Aunt 
Jane. 

don't think I ever did," she answered. 

Ye never? Wa'al, he was a great han' to 
talk in meetin'. He had an idee he had more 
faith'n any other livin' man. I remember 
one evenin' when he got pretty excited and 
warmed up to his subjec' some o' the young 
people was makin' a noise on the back seat, 
an' there was quite a proper bunch o' young 
folks about that time in the church, an' I 
guess the noise disturbed him. He turned 
'round so he could face 'em an' shouted — 
^Brethren, ye mus' have faith — faith, I tell 
ye!' and then he stretched out his long arm 
and p'inted to the young people an' said, 
^Brethren an' Sisters over thar, some o' ye 
that ain't got no faith'll be glad t' catch on 
to my ol' long coat-tail when I go up!' I 
guess he'd grab somebody's coat-tail if he 
was here and could hear this machine perform 
all sorts o' music and talk like humans, 
'cause I guess he would think it was persessed 
with th' evil one." 

''Now, Ebenezer," said his wife, gently, 
"do let someone else do some talking." 

"Hum, you're just as green as I be, only 


56 


Round Hill Farm 


you don’t let on/’ rejoined the old man, a 
little piqued by his wife’s remonstrance. 
Mrs. Palmer wisely made no reply and merely 
folded her hands in her lap and closed her 
eyes. Ebenezer, however, notwithstanding 
the quiet rebuke was thoroughly aroused; 
he was having an exciting time and could 
not be silent. 

^^Ever heard one o’ them machines before?” 
he asked Aunt Jane. 

“Yes, quite often in the city.” 

“Ah, William said ye must have when I 
tol’ him I’d invited ye folks over. Wa’al, 
I’ve heard tell on this machine before ; my 
wife’s sister, Phoebe Ann (she’s housekeeper 
for one on them big bugs at Newport), says 
as how they’ve got one down there. But I 
swan, it do make me feel kin’ o’ queer — ” 
he added, after a moment of thoughtful 
silence — “to hear folks a-talkin’ that ain’t 
here and ain’t no idee that their voice be, 
nuther!” 

The concert was over, the machine and the 
people were gone and Aunt and I were just 
going when someone knocked at the door. 
Mr. Elliott opened the door to see who it was. 
There was fight enough for me to see my 


Round Hill Farm 


57 


cousin Tom Lester standing on the doorstep. 
I was just opening my mouth to speak when 
I noticed the two men looking at each other 
intently, and with evident surprise in his 
voice Tom exclaimed, ^^Will!^’ 

^^Tomr 

Each pronounced the other^s name in 
astonishment. Then Tom stepped up and 
put his hand on Mr. Elliott’s shoulder and 
said with gladness in his voice and face: 

“By jove, Elliott, it is really you, isn’t it? 
Say you’re glad to see me, old man!” 

“So I am; what a delightful surprise! 
Come in. wWe did you come from?” 

I looked on wonderingly. Here was an- 
other mystery to be explained. Truly farm 
life grew more exciting every day. 

“Oh, you lost heathen, I’ve found you at 
last!” exclaimed Tom, seemingly overcome 
anew, and still grasping Elliott’s hand. 

“Not much of a find,” said Mr. Elliott 
smiling joyously into Tom’s face. 

“Let me be judge of that,” said Cousin 
Tom. Then he saw us and smiled. “There 
isn’t anything strange about my being here. 
I came visiting my cousin and aunt. The 
man over at the farm said he thought I would 


58 


Round Hill Farm 


find you here. He told me how to get here 
and here I am/' 

^^Yes, we are here," said Aunt Jane. I 
had gone up to him as he spoke and was 
holding his hand in my glad impulsive way. 
He and I had been brought up together; he 
was all the brother I ever knew. His father 
was my guardian, but the real work of looking 
after me fell on Tom's broad shoulders and 
no real brother could have been any more 
faithful than this one and only cousin of mine. 

“Who be yer friend, William?" inquired his 
father. 

“My old college friend, Tom Lester. You 
remember hearing me speak of him, do you 
not?" 

“ Sure I do ! And we be right glad to see ye. 
Ye remember bearin' William tell about him, 
don't ye, wife?" 

“Yes, I remember," and she smiled one of 
those rare sweet smiles that made one love 
her instantly. Mr. Elliott stepped over and 
said: 

“ This is my mother, Tom. I want you to 
know her." 

“ Did ye say ye was related to these ladies?" 
interrupted the old gentleman. 


Round Hill Farm 


59 


Yes, they are my aunt and cousin. Father 
sent me up to see how they were getting along 
and to find out if Ruth wasn’t homesick. He 
thought she might be ready to return by this 
time.” 

^^No, your father is mistaken for once. I 
am not ready to leave the farm.” Just then 
I happened to look over Cousin Tom’s shoulder 
and my eyes encountered young Elliott’s. 
There was an expression in them that I did 
not understand. He looked pale and as 
though he had been physically hurt. He 
dropped his eyes as though he did not want 
me to look at him. I wondered what had 
happened to make him look like that. It 
could not be Tom’s arrival, for he was truly 
glad to see him. ^^It must be something 
serious,” I thought, ^^to affect him so,” yet 
what it was I could not imagine. 

Shortly after this Aunt Jane said we must 
be going. Cousin Tom said : 

“Walk over with us. Will. I want to talk 
with you later.” 

Mr. Elliott consented and we walked along 
the dusty country road. There was a little 
moon, the stars shone brightly. The peeping 
frogs were holding a concert down in the 


60 


Round Hill Farm 


valley and a light breeze from the south stirred 
the foliage of the trees and shrubs along the 
roadside. Cousin Tom did most of the talking. 
When we arrived at our door Aunt Jane 
and I went in. Tom said that he and Will 
would smoke for a while and he would join 
us shortly. Mr. Elliott led the way to the 
seat under the trees in the orchard. It 
seemed strange to me why they had not 
heard from each other if they were so friendly. 
I remembered then that Cousin Tom had a 
friend named Elliott when he was in college, 
but I had not thought of it until tonight. In 
about an hour Tom came in. 

Well,^’ I said, so you know our neighbor 

^^Yes, Will and I were college chums — real 
friends. It's funny that we haven't heard 
from each other in over three years. I don't 
quite understand it myself. I knew that his 
people lived in this part of the country some- 
where. He never said much about his people, 
but I knew his father died when he was little 
and that his mother married again and that 
they did not have much money." 

Then you approve of him as a friend and 
neighbor?" 

“Of course I do. He was the best friend 


Round Hill Farm 


61 


I ever had. Out-and-out honest, hit or miss. 
If he thinks he’ll ever let three years slip by 
again and I not hear from him he’s mistaken 
that’s all. But you like him, don’t you, 
Ruth?” 

like every member of the Palmer family. 
Money will never repay all the nice things 
they have done for Aunt Jane and me.” 

'^That’s right. Now I feel better about 
you and Aunt Jane staying here alone. 
Mother has worried and Father thought it 
time you came home. I had my orders to 
bring you back.” 

Do, Tom, get them to let us stay without 
any more fuss. I have had a glorious time 
so far. If you will only do this for me I 
will make it up to you some time. You, your- 
self, know Mr. Palmer and his family and you 
can tell your father and mother how good 
they are to us and that Susan is good, com- 
petent help. Then there is James if we need 
any help other than Susan can give.” 

^^I’U think about it,” was all I could get 
him to promise. ^^You might remember I 
haven’t seen much of the farm. It was 
dark when I arrived. Tomorrow I will look 
the place over and make up my mind.” 


CHAPTER VI 


The next morning, immediately after break- 
fast, Cousin Tom went over to see his friend 
Elliott again, and I was busy helping Aunt 
Jane for a while. Then I went to the veranda. 
I was well pleased with the weather, for first 
impressions influence so many people. I was 
anxious that Tom should hke the place well 
enough to come again. Then I saw Tom and 
Mr. Elliott strolling leisurely up the garden 
path. They were two stalwart youths, and I 
felt proud that they were either kin or friend. 
Their unexpected meeting the night before 
was an exhilarating pleasure to both. Al- 
though utterly unlike in temperament, yet 
between the two one found all that was 
interesting in men; the faults and virtues of 
each were along different lines, yet balanced 
perfectly. 

^^Now,'' said Tom, sitting down on the 
steps beside me, have made Elliott, here, 
confess that business can be put off for a few 
62 


Round Hill Farm 


63 


hours; so with your consent and invitation, 
he will go with us to inspect the farm/^ 

^^Oh, please do!’^ I begged. am in need 
of all the eloquence you possess; I want Tom 
to like the place well enough to come again.’' 

Mr. Elliott’s brow puckered ; puzzled uncer- 
tainty expressed itself in his face; he seemed 
afraid of being in the way. 

Please do!” I urged again. 

^^Yes, come along, old man,” said Tom, 
^Hhe grass is dry. I am anxious to see this 
bit of Eden by daylight.” 

So we walked leisurely along from one 
place of interest to another. Most of the 
time, when the path was wide enough, I 
walked with Tom on my right and Mr. Elliott 
on my left. They kept up a constant display 
of wit, ridiculing everything I called their 
attention to; and Tom would climb up and 
look into the little bluebird’s nest in an old, 
empty paint keg that hung in the apple tree 
by the roadside. We visited the garden, 
and inspected the hens and chickens. The 
wide, stretching country was fresh and green; 
the meadow larks were singing; and the odors 
that tell of spring were wafted to us from 
every quarter. Then we wandered to the 


64 


Round Hill Farm 


lower meadow to look at the great corn-field, 
where Mr. Palmer was busy with his men. 
He saw us, came and leaned against the 
stone fence, and inquired : — 

'^Wa'al, young man, how do ye Uke the 
looks o^ the farm?^' 

Tom replied, I do not know much about a 
farm, but it looks all right and Ruth has 
taken a great fancy to the place.’^ 

^^The gal is all right. She^s improved a 
sight since she came, an^ she^ll make a grand, 
good farmer arter a lee tie more experience; 
but some o^ her questions tickled me nigh 
unto death; they had the city ignorance 
stamped on every last one q> ^em. Still, as I 
said, she’ll be all right arter more experience.” 

Tom and Mr. Elliott exchanged amused 
looks; they were both eagerly drinking in the 
old man’s talk, and it was with difficulty that 
they suppressed a laugh. 

Don’t you think she is over-zealous?” 
asked Tom. 

^'Not a mite,” answered the old man, “I 
think it a grand idee for a woman to take an 
interest in things that grow out o’ doors; 
an’ I was kind o’ afraid she’d be lonesome, 
’cause one day on the farm is kind o’ like 


Round Hill Farm 


66 


another; but dreary — ^no; her spirits an^ face 
has been like a bit o' clear sky ever since she 
cum." 

'‘I see she manages to have her way here 
the same as she does in the city," laughed 
Tom. 

^'Say, young man, I'd like to inquire, 
seein' ye be from the city, and know all about 
fashions, if it ain't fash'nable no more fer 
gals to wear bonnets or hats or somethin' o' 
the kind on their heads. Miss Ruth, here, I 
notice, mos' alius goes 'round bareheaded." 

I believe hats are rather out at present," 
laughed Tom. He was delighted with the 
old man 's fun. 

^^She do beat all the gals I ever knew. I 
should think she'd get so tanned up she'd 
look like a ham that'd been forgot, an' left 
in the smoke-house till it was well seasoned." 

Do I look like a ham?" — and I walked up 
close to the stone fence so he could get a good 
look at me. 

'^No, that's the beater on't. Ye don't 
look like a ham." 

^^What do I look like, then?" 

^'Wa'al, if I was a young man I'd tell ye 
mighty quick how you look; but law sakes, 


66 


Round Hill Farm 


Miss Ruth, ain^t ye got no looking-glass?^' 

^^Yes, I have a looking-glass, and further- 
more, I am glad you are not a young man — 
you are much nicer as you are," and I walked 
away. 

^^Thar, now! Ye do reconcile me to my 
gray hairs. Say! what's yer hurry? I'd 
rather talk than hoe corn any day." 

^^No, I must go; Aunt Jane will be looking 
for us." 

Tom and Mr. Elliott followed, busily talking 
about their affairs; and in the late afternoon 
Mr. Elliott went with Cousin Tom to the 
station, and it was some time before I saw 
either of them again. 


CHAPTER VII 


A WEEK or more after Cousin Tom's de- 
parture, Aunt Jane and I were out on the 
veranda enjoying the evening air. I was 
walking slowly to and fro thinking and making 
plans to entertain my friends and relatives, 
for Cousin Tom had promised to come and 
stay with us when he had his vacation in 
August. As an inducement and to influence 
him to come, I told him I had written to my 
friend, Eleanor Roberts, inviting her to visit 
me that month. We both loved Eleanor, 
although I do not think he had told her so. 
At any rate, they both promised to stay the 
month of August with us. 

^^Oh," I thought, ^^why can't that vaca- 
tion be now, in June, when the breezes 
bring the odor of roses, fresh and sweet 
with dew from the garden! If I were Cousin 
Tom I would take my vacation now." 

At this point in my meditation I looked 
up and saw Mr. Palmer coming up the gar- 
67 


68 


Round Hill Farm 


den path. He was limping badly and had 
a cane in each hand. Aunt Jane and I 
both hastened down to meet him, anxious 
to know what had befallen him. We sympa- 
thized although we had a struggle to keep 
from laughing. 

'^Ye see,” he began, went over east, 
sum ten miles or so, lookin^ for sum young 
pigs. Wa’al, I found a man what had sum 
likely lookin’ ones, about four months old — 
just what I wanted. We dickered a spell on 
the price. He wanted four dollars an’ I 
offered three. Wa’al, to make a long story 
short, we fin’ly split the dif’rence — I gin 
him three an’ a half and said I’d take ’em 
right home with me, for I was afraid he would 
back out. So we put each one in a bag an’ 
loaded ’em inter my wagon and I started fur 
home. Them was the likeliest lookin’ pigs 
I’d seen this year. I jus’ couldn’t help 
buyin’ ’em nohow. 

'Wa’al, as I said, we put ’em inter a bag 
and loaded ’em inter the wagon an’ I started 
fur home. I drove along towards home 
thinkin’ what a bargain I’d got and feelin’ 
mighty pleased with myself and my day’s 
work, an’ like the pesl^ fool that I was. 


Round Hill Farm 


69 


didn^t do as Lot^s wife did — look 'round 
an' see if they was all right. But arter 
a while I fin'ly did look 'round when I was 
most home, an' if two o' the pesky critters 
wasn't gone! Now, I hadn't no idee when it 
happened; it might be a mile back and then 
ag'in it might be the whole tenfuralll knowed. 
I thought a spell and fin'ly decided to turn 
the ole boss 'round an' go back and look fur 
'em. I guess I'd gone back about a mile 
when I see one on 'em in a big meadow, 
runnin' 'round kind er to play like. I 
hitched the ole boss to a bar post and started 
in to ketch the rascal. 

^^Now, I'm a big man and clumsy besides, 
and take a big meadow, and ag'in a spry 
young pig I don't think any real, good 
bettin' man'd put up much money on 
me. Wa'al to go on, we started in on the 
race. Sometimes he was ahead and once in a 
while I cut off a corner and gained on him a 
bit. We kep' this up fur some time 'till I 
was a-losin' my breath, and was about ready 
to call off the race, when all to once he either 
got confused or skeered, I don't know which, 
an' he just turned and cum right towards me. 
I put on a bit more speed — in fac' I let out 


70 


Round Hill Farm 


all the speed thar was in me — when Provi- 
dence or somethin’ else ’most as powerful, 
stubbed my toe, and I fell right onter that 
pig! Prophets of the wicked! how it did 
knock the wind outer both of us; but the next 
I knowed I had that pig by the leg an’ I 
managed to hoi’ on till I got anuther bag an’ 
got him inter it, over in the wagon. An’ 
lame — I’ve been so lame I’ve had to walk with 
two canes ever since.” 

^^Did you capture the other pig?” I asked. 

^'No, an’ I hope I never shall if it’s goin’ 
to lame me up as this one has. I’m too ole 
to chase pigs,” and he groaned as he moved 
to an easier position on the veranda steps. 
‘^Thar, now, I guess I’ll be a-goin’. Just 
thought I’d hobble over an’ see how ye was 
a-gittin’ along. 

''How is the garden gittin’ along; James 
has worked pretty smart, ain’t he?” 

"Oh, the garden is all right.” Then re- 
menibering Mr. Elliott said that his father 
would not like it if we objected to James, I 
added, "Yes, the planting is all done; all we 
have to do now is to fight the weeds.” 

"Wa’al, I’m glad ye be satisfied with yer 
help. Now I must be a-goin’. Do cum over. ” 


Round Hill Farm 


71 


After he was gone I sat and brooded a 
long time about James. It seemed to me 
that I could not wait patiently until one of 
the Palmer family saw fit to solve the mystery. 

“Every Eden has its serpent sooner or 
later,” I thought, and James seemed to be 
the serpent in ours. To add to my annoy- 
ance and worry, he had been following Aunt 
Jane lately; not so that anyone else noticed it, 
but I, who was on the alert for every move of 
his, was aware that he showed an interest 
in the part of the house she inhabited. He 
had watched the place like a detective, and 
as I thought of it, I wondered what had 
become of Great-uncle’s money. Surely he 
must have had something besides the farm. 

It seemed to me that being his relatives, we 
had a right to know and it seemed to me 
strange also that no one exhibited the least 
interest in this point, but rather appeared to 
take it for granted that the farm was all he 
possessed. If James was a detective why did 
they not search the house before we came and 
when no one lived there? Perhaps they did 
and could not find what they were confident 
was hidden away somewhere and thinking 
that we might accidentally come upon it. 


72 


Round Hill Farm 


they put James there to watch us. He 
certainly must be looking for something of 
value or he would not be so interested in the 
house — of that I felt convinced. This idea 
took a strong hold on me. 

Heretofore I had been so occupied with the 
farm that I had given little heed to the house 
and what it contained. Now, however, it 
suddenly possessed an unusual attraction. 
I had heard of mysterious hiding-places. 
Perhaps we had a secret panel, a hidden 
hand, a cave, a double floor in the attic, a 
false back to a picture, a loose stone in the 
chinmey, a secret or locked drawer in an old 
table or desk — the very thing! In the old 
desk we moved from Great-uncle’s sleeping 
room to the living room was a small drawer 
we had been unable to open. Either it was 
caught or locked — in any case it had baffled 
all attempts Aunt Jane or I had made to 
open it without damaging the desk. Per- 
haps it had a secret spring. 

I went and looked at it, examined every 
part of it carefully, tapped the wood in 
several places softly with a hammer hoping 
to find a recess where there was every 
appearance of solidity, but I failed to find 


Round Hill Farm 


73 


anything of the sort. My faith was not 
shaken though. I felt even more con- 
fident that this drawer was the key to the 
mystery that hung around us. I was tempted 
to force it open but in the end could not make 
up my mind to damage the desk which I 
discovered I cherished in memory of Great- 
uncle. No, I would wait until Tom came; 
then I would get him to open it. In the 
meantime I would pursue my researches 
further, and in other parts of the house. I 
pondered these things with newly awakened 
interest and wondered why I had not seriously 
considered Great-uncle’s money before. 

The next day I ascended the narrow stairs 
that led up to the attic. The sunlight 
streamed in through the window and searched 
the farthest corners under the eves. I opened 
the window, moved an old chair close to it, 
and sat down and looked the attic over 
carefully. 

The floor was bare and dusty. It was a 
typical attic, with its discarded furniture, 
battered tnmks, boxes of various kinds, an 
old spinning wheel, and at one end of the 
room an antique hand loom. The people of 
long ago came back to me as if by magic. I 


74 


Round Hill Farm 


could imagine a stately colonial dame sitting at 
that loom smiling over her work, moving 
dexterously that wooden shuttle between 
the warp; I could hear the bang, bang, of 
that wooden lathe as she beat in each 
strand or thread, and could see the piece of 
cloth growing slowly but surely as she worked. 
I arose presently and went to work for I had 
no time to dream of what happened years 
ago. I opened trunks whose broken hinges 
creaked in the stillness; I found school- 
books, letters, and a thousand and one 
treasures that all old, well-stored attics 
contain, but no money or other valuables in 
the line of papers of any kind to reward 
me for my labor. 

What had I better do? Finally I decided, 
as usual, to wait — wait until Tom came in 
August, or if Mr. Elliott came home before 
that, I would try to get him to help me open 
that little drawer in the desk. 

“So, Mr. James North,^^ I concluded aloud, 
fully assured, after my search in the attic that 
the drawer was the centre of attraction, “ you 
may look into the kitchen windows all you 
like; the treasure is not there but in the 
living room.'^ 


CHAPTER VIII 


It was July and — according to Ebenezer^s 
farm calendar — the month to git the hayin^ 
done and to fight potater-bugs!’^ 

Spring was gone and summer was here. 
Horses and men were busy in the hayfield. 
How smooth and nice the meadows looked 
after the hay was cut. Ebenezer told me 
that I would never make a farmer unless I 
learned to drive a horse. (Did anyone ever 
have so many things to learn?) So I went 
into the fields, rode in the empty hay cart and 
drove the horses from the bam to the field. 

^^Ye be a-drivin’ extra well,^^ he informed 
me one day when I drove the team through 
the gateway and did not collide with the 
gate post. I could turn the team around and 
not tip the wagon over provided the meadow 
was large enough. 

Aunt Jane had been busy during the long 
summer days making me some dainty muslin 
dresses. She said she was tired of seeing me 


76 


Round Hill Farm 


every day and all day in a short skirt and 
shirt waist. 

It was a warm Sunday and I dressed up in 
one to please her. She came to my room and 
helped me put it on. It was very simply 
made, the sHrt and waist were trimmed with 
ruffles and the sleeves were short, coming 
just below the elbow. Aunt Jane gave the 
dress a pull here and there and I could tell 
by the expression of her face that she was 
pleased with both the dress and the one who 
wore it. I thought, myself, it was quite 
becoming. 

Aunt Jane kept looking at me during lunch 
and sighed once or twice. I knew she was 
wishing our exile over; but I was not. I do 
not remember of ever being so contented or 
happy before, for I found something to do or 
to interest me all day and every day. Before 
we had finished lunch I had decided to take 
myself in my pretty dress to a cool, shady 
glen where there was a spring of pure, bubbling, 
sparkling water coming out from under a 
great rocky cliff. Here I could read while 
Aunt Jane had her afternoon nap. 

So, after lunch, I found a book that looked 
interesting, went out into the garden and 


Round Hill Farm 


77 


picked a great, half-opened Jack rose and 
pinned it to the front of my dress. Aunt 
Jane would like that, I thought. It added 
just the touch of color that the dress needed. 
Then I went through the orchard and then 
across a meadow. The sun was scorching hot, 
so I hurried along to the little glen, lined by 
high cliffs. The spring and the cliffs were 
shaded by huge trees growing out of the crev- 
ices or fissures of the rocks, the roots reaching 
down and growing over the sides, then dis- 
appearing again in another fissure, like some 
huge claw. 

I remembered that when I was there last, 
huckleberries were blooming nearby, while 
down below the spring where the water runs 
when the stream overflows, blackberry bushes 
were white with blossoms. Now the berries 
must be putting on their shiny, black coats. 
“Just the place,’’ I thought, as I hurried along 
in the hot July sunshine, “ to read and dream!” 

“Yes,” I said aloud, after I reached the 
cool, damp shade, “ the spring is all I remem- 
bered it to be.” I bent down to fill my 
drinking cup with the crystal water and there 
on a little shelving place in the cliff I saw a 
clean glass. I took it up and wondered who 


78 


Round Hill Farm 


had found the spring besides myself. I 
looked around to see if anyone was in sight 
but saw nobody. I was a little afraid. Then 
I felt reassured with the thought that tramps 
would not be particular to leave a nice clean 
glass or to find a safe place for it. Probably 
some of the farm hands had left it there. 
Satisfied, I looked about for a comfortable 
place to sit and read. The cliff looked en- 
ticingly cool and green and I determined to 
get up there on the highest point. After 
trying for a few minutes to find a place on the 
sheer side which I could climb without soiling 
my dress, I gave it up and went around on the 
sloping side where I found it easy climbing. 
As I hoped, there was a broad stone at the 
summit, covered with a soft, dry moss and 
quantities of small ferns were growing up 
through the moss. The fragrant ferns gath- 
ered in thick tufts all about made it a most 
delightful place to sit and read. I made my- 
self comfortable, with my back against a tree. 
It was all so peaceful and still; even the birds 
were taking their midday nap. All was 
still but the spring; the water bubbled and 
sparkled and gurgled cheerfully on its way 
down the hillside. 


Round Hill Farm 


79 


Suddenly I heard a little familiar chuckle — 
and there, on the opposite cliff, with the usual 
merry look on his face sat Will Elliott. I 
wondered how long he had been watching me. 

“How long have you been there?^’ I in- 
quired. 

“ I came before you did. Miss Lester. This 
is our spring.^’ 

“Oh, well, how did I know whose spring 
it was!^^ He was sitting on the edge of the 
ledge with his legs hanging over the side, and 
looked so much at home and so amused that I 
wished I had something to throw at him. 
He had been away and I had not seen him 
since Cousin Tom left. 

“I thought you were in the city. Your 
mother said she did not expect you home this 
week.^' 

“I arrived home last night,’' he admitted. 

“Oh, did you?” Then I asked, “What 
made you think of this spring?” 

“Why, I was dry. We often come here in 
summer to get a cool drink. Then I climbed 
up here to think out something I was trying to 
decide.” 

“Had you decided when I intruded upon 
your solitude?” 


80 


Round Hill Farm 


and I do wish you would help me” 

“ Me! Help you?^^ I questioned in astonish- 
ment. 

^'Yes, you. Why not?^^ 

I will if I can, but it will be impossible to 
decide anything with you over there. Come 
over to m}^ cliff. There is more room and 
it is much nicer than yours, too.^’ 

'^Are you sure? This is a fine, old cliff. 

“Do come. This has a nice green carpet 
and another tree for you to lean against.” 

“I am coming. I wanted to come — but I 
do so like to be persuaded — in order to be 
sure of a welcome.” 

“You are welcome, most welcome. This is 
a long, lonesome Sunday afternoon.” 

He scrambled down his cliff, then up 
beside me. I was curious to know what was 
on his mind, what he wanted to tell me and 
why he thought my advice was of enough 
importance to be consulted. But, now that 
he was over on my cliff, he did not seem in any 
haste to tell. 

“ Say, this is great, isn't it?” and he settled 
himself with his back against a tree, in lazy 
contentment. 

“Yes, it is comfortable. That is why I 


Round Hill Farm 


81 


came. I wanted to be comfortable.’^ 

'‘Have I interfered in any way with your 
enjoyment of the place or the day?” 

"You most certainly will, if you do not 
tell me what you are undecided about.” 

" It is too warm to be hurried, but I suppose 
I might as well get it over. Do you remember 
the night your cousin Tom came, we had a 
long talk after you went into the house?” 

"Yes.” 

"He said his father was getting old, and 
they had decided to take another man into 
the business, and Tom offered me that po- 
sition. Said he would insure me more money 
to begin with than I am getting now. I was 
to think it over and let him know.” 

"Why do you hesitate? I do not under- 
stand. Tell me.” 

"Well, there are several reasons. First, I 
shall have to leave home, and I do not think 
my mother will want that. But what bothers 
me the most is why Tom chose me when he 
must know so many other fellows.” 

"Don’t you know?” 

"No, honestly, I do not. Friendship is 
one thing and business is another.” 

"Well, he said he wanted you — didn’t he? 


82 


Round Hill Farm 


— so he must have a reason/^ I could not 
help smiling at his evident lack of conceit. 

What are you smiling at?’^ 

“Have you no faith in Tom’s judgment? 
Don’t you suppose he knows what sort of a 
man he wants in his business?” 

“ Why, yes. Tom always knows just what 
he wants. That is just what makes it so 
hard for me to understand.” 

“Oh, you goose!” I could not help laugh- 
ing. 

At last a light seemed to dawn on him and 
he grew red to the roots of his soft, curly 
hair. 

“ What Cousin Tom is looking for, I guess, 
is an honest man with ability.” 

“Thank you both. Now let’s talk of 
something else.” 

“No, I’m not ready to change the subject. 
I want to talk a lot more about it.” 

He was plainly embarrassed, so I inquired, 
“ How long before you have to decide and let 
him know?” 

“Not before fall, or possibly New Year’s.” 

“Oh, well! That is a long time, so — is 
there any other obstacle you wanted to con- 
sult me about?” 


Round Hill Farm 


83 


He hesitated, then he said, '‘N-o. But 
there is something I wanted to tell you/' 

^‘What is it?" I asked eagerly; it occurred 
to me that he was going to tell me about 
James, for he must know that I was curious. 

I wanted to say that there is nothing 
that I woi^d not do for your cousin Tom. 
He was more than good to me in the old days 
when we were in college. He had plenty of 
money and I did not, but that never made 
any difference to him; and his influence 
helped me over many otherwise impossible 
places. I wanted you to know how much I 
respect and admire your cousin." 

^‘Yes," I laughed. ^^Tom loves his friends 
and hates his enemies." 

^^And the most astonishing surprise of all 
was that you are the cousin I often heard 
him mention." 

He was looking through an opening in the 
underbrush at the little spring, and somehow 
T-.knew he thought that there was some- 
tfiing more than cousinly feeling between 
Tom and me. Tom might have said some- 
thing years ago that made him think so, 
for with his loyalty to his friends he was apt to 
be over-zealous. I wanted to tell him that 


S4 Round Hill Farm 

it was not so, but I could not make myself 
continue the subject. After all,’^ I thought, 
^^He will find out when Eleanor comes. So 
it will be all right. Anyway, what difference 
does it make whether he knows or not?^^ 

It is queer,’’ he mused, that ourneighbors 
should have belonged to the same family of 
Lesters that Tom did and I never happened 
to find it out; and it is equally queer that 
Tom’s ^little cousin’ as he used to speak of 
you should come here and be my neighbor.” 

^^Yes, it is queer. The world must be 
getting rather small.” 

^^No, not small, but just the right size.” 

I knew he was about to say something nice 
by the mischievous sparkle of his eyes: 

^'You fitted into our neighborhood just as 
a new star comes into the heavens, bright, 
sparkling and cheery, shedding a lustrous 
light both on the just and the unjust.” 

I stood up and made him a deep, low 
curtsey, and said, Thank you. I have had 
nice speeches made to me before today.” 

I am sure you have, and they were meant 
— every word. No one could help it, you 
know.” 

'^Blarney, my friend, comes off a lawyer’s 


Round Hill Farm 


85 


tongue as easily as water from a duck^s 
back. I am afraid you are not an exception 
to that rule. You know that Tom looks 
through colored glasses when he recommends 
his friends. Did you know that he was 
coming home to stay the month of August 

“No, I did not know; but I thought he 
might.^^ 

“Yes, he is coming, and I have invited a 
friend, Eleanor Roberts, to stay the month of 
August, also. I am quite sure you will like 
her.’^ 

“Why should I like her?’’ 

“Because I want you to be good and help 
me entertain them.^' 

“Tom would not thank me for doing that.’’ 

“ Yes, he will. Now, be good and promise.” 

“What is my reward if I promise?” He 
was looking at the rose on the front of my 
dress where the ruffles formed a point. 

“Will you promise if I give you this rose?” 

“ I will help all I can, if Tom wants me to.” 

“No, oh no! You do not want the rose. I 
am sorry I mentioned it.” I tore the rose 
loose from the dress. 

“Yes, I do. Please give it to me. I will 
do all I can — all that Tom would approve of. 


86 


Round Hill Farm 


You know there isn^t anything that I would 
not do for him.’^ 

did not ask you to help him. He can 
attend to his own affairs. I asked you to 
help me. But I understand. I will take 
myself and my rose home/^ and I walked to 
the edge of the chff and looked over. Some 
moss and soil gave way and went rattling 
down to the ground below. 

Come away, please he implored. Don^t 
you realize you might fall?^^ 

I laughed tantalizingly and held the rose 
in the air over the edge of the cliff. 

^^Give it to me/^ he whispered, ever so 
softly. promise to help you now and 
always. Now may I have the rose? Please 
give it to me.’^ 

I realized that he was trying to be loyal to 
his friend. Sweet as the last hour had been, 
I thought it time the rose was removed from 
a place of instant jeopardy and dropped it 
over the chff. I drew back the empty hand 
and we both looked over the edge, but the 
rose was gone out of sight, safe somewhere 
amongst the leaves below. 

For several seconds he stared looking over 
the chff. His jaw was set, but his eyes were 


Round Hill Farm 


87 


dangerously appealing. He was strangely 
moved. 

^^See here, Miss Lester, I wanted that rose.^^ 

^‘Oh, did you! Never mind, it is gone. 
Now we will go home.^^ I walked over to 
the other side and began to let myself down 
over the edge. 

^^Wait, let me help you.^’ 

He took my hand to keep me from falling. 
He did not release it but held it tightly until 
I looked up. If you will allow me, I promise 
to do all I possibly can. May we not com- 
bine forces and do all that is possible to 
entertain your friends?” 

If you are sure I am not asking too much.” 

“I am sure.” 

He scrambled down behind me; then we 
walked to the little spring. 

^^I want one more drink; will you give it 
to me?” I asked. 

He took the glass, bent down and let the 
water flow into and over it for a few seconds 
while I seated myself on a moss-cushioned 
rock nearby. While I was drinking, he walked 
over to the place where I dropped the rose 
and began to look amongst the shrubs and 
leaves. 


88 


Round Hill Farm 


Ah!^^ I heard him say. 

He had found the rose; it was his at last. 
He fastened it to the lapel of his coat. There 
was a satisfied smile on his face. 

I held out my hand. ^^Give me back the 
rose. It is mine, and I want it — please do.^^ 

“I am sorry but I cannot give it to you.^^ 

'^Yes, please do, I want it.’^ 

shaking his head, cannot, really. 
I will never give it to anyone but your cousin, 
Tom Lester. If he wants it he can have it. 
No one else will ever have it, not even you.’’ 

Something about him reminded me of a 
naughty small boy. I was about to laugh, 
then thought I had better not. I decided to 
drop the matter of the rose where it was and 
turned my attention to the beautiful country. 

“Do you know,” he said, “that you look 
like a nymph of the fountain in that white 
dress?” 

“No, really, I cannot imagine myself a 
nymph.” 

“Be a nymph just now, and give me the 
glass; I am fearfully dry.” As he refreshed 
himself, I was looking down the ravine in an 
abstracted way. The sun was behind a 
cloud, the glen was filled with a soft mellow 


Round Hill Farm 


89 


light that blurred the trees and other objects 
in the distance. 

^^Do you know/^ I meditated aloud, ^Hhat 
books and pictures cannot teach us every- 
thing; the reality of all this we have to learn 
from actual contact and observation.'^ 

Mr. Elliott nodded assent. '^That's true. 
It is a good view. It is interesting. Look 
along the valley in the distance; everything 
is softened to mystery and elusiveness by 
the shifting shadows of that passing summer 
cloud. That view is one a painter would 
covet and an author grow discouraged because 
he could not describe it. Everything seems 
asleep in this little glen except you and 
me." 

^^Yes, everything does seem asleep, it is so 
still!" 

Then we strolled leisurely along towards 
the house. I remembered the old desk and 
the little drawer that no one could open. 

Oh, there is something I should like to ask 
you to do for me when you have time." 

^^What is it? I have all the time there is 
now." 

'^Do you remember Great-uncle's desk in 
the living room?" 


90 


Round Hill Farm 


Yes, what about it?’^ 

There is a drawer in that old desk that is 
locked, or something. Anyway, we cannot 
get it open and my bump of curiosity will not 
allow me to rest until I know what is inside. 
I want to investigate. Do you think you 
could get it open?’^ 

I can try,^’ he answered smiling. He 
seemed glad to help me. 

We hurried along to the house. Aunt Jane 
was interested when I explained to her what 
we were going to do. We did not wish to do 
anything that would damage the desk, but 
after a long time he succeeded in getting it 
open, and in the drawer we found a little 
old-fashioned case with something else done 
up in a little package, the paper covering of 
which was yellow and worn with age. We 
opened the package and found nothing but 
a dry stem or two and dust which evidently 
had once been flowers. 

Aunt Jane opened the little case and found 
an ambrotype. She almost dropped it in 
her surprise, after she had gazed at the picture 
an instant. 

^^Ruth!’’ she exclaimed, ^^It is almost a 
perfect picture of you.’^ 



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Round Hill Farm 91 

^'Oh, let me see!'' Mr. Elliott and I both 
looked over Aunt Jane's shoulder. 

^^Yes," said Mr. Elliott. ^^It surely does 
look like Miss Lester; the hair and dress are 
different in some way, but the features are 
almost the same." 

I was trying to remember what I had heard 
about my grandmother and great-uncle. 
Vaguely my mind began to form the resem- 
blance of a chain of events that happened 
long ago. Suddenly the truth flashed upon 
me. 

^^Why, yes! Don't you remember, Aunt 
Jane, of hearing something about Grand- 
father and Great-uncle both wanting to marry 
Grandmother?" I was growing more excited 
every instant. 

^^Ye-es," Aunt Jane answered, '^now you 
mention it, I think I do." She was still 
gazing at the picture. 

That is surely it. Great-uncle has always 
kept her picture. I have found Treasure 
Number One!" I went on excitedly. ^^Who 
knows what may be hidden here in the old 
house, waiting for someone to discover it. 
I wonder who will be lucky enough to solve 
the mystery! It may be you. Aunt Jane, 


92 


Round Hill Farm 


and it may be me, or it may be James, and 
then again, it may never be found 

When I said James,’' Mr. Elliott grew 
red to the very roots of his hair, and never 
looked up from the picture he was holding to 
the light. 

^^He knows something about James and is 
ashamed,” I thought. I do hate mysteries 
and I will make him tell me, if I can, why 
James is staying here. But I must be careful 
for I do not wish to hurt his feelings or let 
Aunt Jane know anything about the myste- 
rious James.” 

^^Now, Ruth,” said Aunt Jane, wish you 
would not talk in that absurd fashion — you 
give me the creeps! I shall be afraid to stay 
in the house nights. You make me imagine 
all kinds of things — ghosts, burglars and — ” 

“All right. Aunt,” I said carelessly. “I 
will not mention treasures again to you. I 
will hunt in solitude and you can do the same. 
Can I have Grandmother’s picture?” 

“Yes, keep the picture; you are welcome to 
it.” 

I sat there by the desk, idly dreaming. I 
happened to turn the little drawer over and 
noticed something written on the under side. 


Round Hill Farm 


93 


I looked closely and made out these words: 
^'Seek and ye shall find/^ 

Goodness!^’ I exclaimed, and my eyes 
seemed bulging out of my head. I held the 
little drawer up so they could both see and 
read. 

Strange. What do you make of it?^’ 
Aunt Jane asked Mr. Elliott. 

“'Seek and ye shall find, he repeated 
slowly. “ It may mean something and it ma^ 
not. Someone may have written it for fun; 
I do not know.’’ He was studying the 
writing closely. 

“ Is it Great-uncle’s writing?” I asked. 

“Yes, I think it is, and I will tell you there 
is something strange about your uncle’s 
affairs. It has bothered me,” he continued. 
“But all may be made clear in time, for I 
have a letter in my possession with instructions 
to open it one year after your uncle’s death. 
I have every reason to believe that he had 
some money — how much I do not know. 
His papers are safe somewhere; they must be. 
Still, I do not know why he did not leave 
them with me. Father seems to think all 
will be explained when the letter is opened.” 

“When will the year expire?” I asked. 


94 


Round Hill Farm 


October, I believe it is” 

“Almost three more months of suspense. 
Well, I have an idea we can bear it.'^ 

“Yes,’^ said Aunt Jane, “we can bear it. 
Now I will go and prepare tea,” and she 
hastened to the kitchen. 

I pulled a rocker forward. “ Will you come 
and sit down, Mr. Elliott? I want to talk 
with you.” 

He did as I requested. 

“Now, tell me about James. Who is he, 
and what is he doing?” 

“Why, working for you, isn’t he?” 

“Now, don’t evade the question. I want 
to know his real business. We both know 
he is not a farmer any more than I am.” 

“ I thought you considered yourself a 
farmer?” 

“I am not, but I should like to be.” 

“Possibly that is what he would like to 
be.” 

“Young man, are you going to tell me?” 

“Haven’t I—?” 

“No, and you know it. Is it because you 
are ashamed to?” 

“Yes, partly.” 

“Why not tell me?” 


Round Hill Farm 


95 


Because I promised not to tell anyone/’ 
bad promise is better broken than 
kept/” I retorted. 

You will know some time. I cannot tell 
you now.” 

I was in high dudgeon at such ignominious 
defeat. It was very annoying to have him 
act so. Why couldn’t he tell me? ^'Oh, 
well, who cares? I will not bother my head 
over him any more. He can keep it to him- 
seK if he wants to — ” so I told myself. 

After a few minutes I said to him: 

^^My dear Mr. Elliott, I’m afraid you’ll 
never be appreciated in this world. You — ” 

^^I think I am a very tactful person,” he 
interrupted, ^'because you and I never quar- 
rel. We have been good friends ever since 
the day you arrived in town. I do not know 
any other question that I would not answer 
gladly. I would answer your question now 
if it concerned me alone.” 

Never mind. I do not wish to know. 
Let us talk about farming.” 

There was real concern in the look he gave 
me. His face was very expressive, responding 
readily to every change of mood. He knew 
I was angry and he felt uncomfortable. But 


• 96 


Round Hill Farm 


somehow I felt as though I were being made 
a fool of and it made me angry. 

We changed the subject, but there were 
frequent pauses. The spontaneity was gone. 
Finally he arose, remarking that it was time 
to go home. As he came to bid me good 
evening, he hesitated and then said : — 

know I am obstinate, but wonT you 
overlook it this time? I will be exceedingly 
grateful if you will. Please be good to me!^’ 
and he held out his hand with a winning smile. 

will think about it, and let you know 
some other time.^’ In my heart I did for- 
give him, I could not help it for I knew he 
was right from his standpoint. He must 
have seen what I was too stubborn to acknowl- 
edge, for, with a genial and happy smile he 
replied : 

Thank you. Now, good-night. I have 
had a charming afternoon,’’ and was off down 
the garden path. 

I put Grandmother’s picture back in the 
desk. I thought she would be lonesome 
anywhere else. Good-night, Grandmother,” 
I said softly, ^^some time you will make it 
known to me where the treasures are hidden.” 


CHAPTER X 


August had come and with it my friend 
Eleanor Roberts. She was what Mr. Palmer 
called a dreadful comfortable person’^ to 
have in one's home. She was so bright and 
attractive and winning that I was afraid even 
Ebenezer would transfer his affections from 
me to her. She was of medium height, very 
daintily and beautifully made, and besides, 
was what some people call ^stylish' from the 
crown of her hat to the sole of her well-shaped 
shoe. But her face — well, my cousin Tom 
thought it the most beautiful he had ever 
seen. 

She fell in love with the farm at once and 
declared that her visit would be one long, 
sweet dream of peace — that she intended to 
enjoy every minute of it. 

One evening when Mr. Elliott came with 
the mail I introduced them, and each seemed 
to decide then and there that they would be 
friends. 


97 


98 


Round Hill Farm 


I told her about the farm and she thought 
our coming and everything that had happened 
quite interesting. 

Meanwhile, I was adding to my knowledge 
about farming, constantly. I was just drink- 
ing in impressions every time I went to the 
garden or wandered across the fields. As to 
James, he still continued to be a subject of 
speculation, although I had neglected to 
watch him since Eleanor^s arrival. I decided 
not to tell her about him or about the hidden 
treasure. I meant to unravel these difficulties 
myself and my active interest was aroused 
again by seeing James gazing into the kitchen 
window one evening where Aunt Jane was 
mixing bread. She was unconscious of his 
presence, so no harm was done, but I marched 
upstairs, took the silver trimmed revolver out 
of the trunk and put it where I could get it at 
an instant’s notice. Not that I had any idea 
of using it, but I felt safer, somehow, in having 
it where I could look at it. 

One warm afternoon Eleanor and I had 
made ourselves comfortable on the veranda. 
We seemed to have the world all to ourselves 
— everything was so still — Eleanor in the big 
swing chair and I in the hammock. We had 


Round Hill Farm 


99 


intended to read if the opportunity presented 
itself. 

I looked up and saw Ebenezer Palmer 
coming up through the garden. So busy 
had I been with Eleanor that I had not seen 
him for several days. 

“Here comes my neighbor and teacher in 
farming, Eleanor, and I want you to know 
him,” I said as he approached the steps. 

“Glad to meet ye!” he responded, acknowl- 
edging the introduction and at the same time 
shaking her hand cordially. “ I knowed some- 
one mus^ be over here ’cause Miss Ruth, here, 
ain’t been over. Wife’s fussed considerable 
’cause ye didn’t cum.” 

“ Are ye from the city?” he asked her. 

He wanted to know all about Eleanor, 
and when he was in pursuit of information he 
would ask almost any question. 

“Like the country?” he continued. 

“Very much in summer.” 

“Ever travelled much on the cars?” his 
questions so far had not given him sufficient 
light on the subject. 

“ I suppose I have when I come to 
think about it.” She was beginning to get 
interested and wondered what question he 


100 


Round Hill Farm 


would ask next, but it seemed he had decided 
to give a little of his own history before he 
proceeded any further. 

Wa^al, me an’ Wife went to Newport once. 
My wife’s sister, Phoebe Ann, she’s a house- 
keeper fur one on them millionaire big bugs. 
Ye see, Phoebe Ann, she an’ her husband stay 
to home an’ keep things a-goin’ so Mr. Big 
Bug can cum an’ go just as he pleases.” 

Eleanor wanted to hear him talk, so she 
asked : 

'^Did you like the millionaire’s place at 
Newport?” 

^^Yes, ’twas grand an’ beautiful.” Eben- 
ezer was gazing down into the valley and had 
a far-away look as though he could see it now. 

They had what I’d call a big yard all fixed 
up grand like. They called it a ^park’. It 
had roads an’ paths an’ lots uv trees an’ 
flowers an’ a greenhouse — in fact, all kinds 
of contraptions. Phoebe Ann, she cums up 
once in a while an’ visits us and tells all 
about the improvements. By the Powers! 
Mr. Millionaire is a pretty shrewd one if he 
be rich. She says he buys ’most everything 
by hull-sale — groceries an’ everything. I 
didn’t think rich folks bothered themselves 


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101 


with such things, but I vow, he does,’^ he 
continued volubly. ^'She says it do take a 
powerful lot to go ^round. Say,’^ (looking at 
Eleanor) ^^how much do you s’pose of mulases 
it do take to make a rule of mulases cookies?^^ 
quart?^’ ventured Eleanor. 

^^No, a hull gallon; and they make that 
batch of cookies twice a week — ^just think 
on^t!^^ 

We did try to think “on’t,’’ but did not 
dare look at each other. 

‘^An^ ham,’’ he went on not looking at us, 

they bile a hull one to once, eat off it once 
or twice an’ the rest is gi’n to the dogs!” 

^^Very wasteful,” Eleanor assented behind 
her book. 

^^Yes, extravagant,” I murmured. 

“Wa’al, them’s millionaires’ ways, I s’pose 
— perhaps his women folks be to blame.” 

^^They almost always are,” replied Eleanor, 
still behind her book. There was silence for 
a few minutes. Then he began a new sub- 
ject. 

^^Say, don’t ye think Miss Ruth here is 
gittin’ to be quite a farmer?” 

suppose she is.” Eleanor wanted to 
hear his views on the question. 


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Dearie me!’’ he laughed. do wish ye 
could’ve beared her ask questions when she 
furst cum. She didn’t know nuthin’ about 
the country. I tol’ Wife Miss Ruth was like 
the ole russet apple-tree that grows down by 
the pasture barway — they be the best thar 
be when they ripen up.” 

^^Then you think I have really improved?” 
I was anxious to know for I had tried so hard 
to learn. 

“Sure on’t; but ye tried to draw the hull 
load to once, the same as ole Mrs. Balson did. 
All kinds of farmin’ ain’t to be learnt in a 
day. It takes the powerfullest lot of hard 
work an’ patience — yes, an’ trust in Provi- 
dence, to make a good farmer.” 

“What about old Mrs. Balson?” I asked. 

“Who was old Mrs. Balson?” inquired 
Eleanor. 

“ Oh, an ole woman that used to live down 
beyond here on the cross road. She had a 
daughter named Matildy, a high-spirited gal, 
who was great fer book learnin’. She loved 
to fix up pretty, too.” 

“Will you please tell us about the old 
lady — is it a story? We want to hear about 
her.” 


Round Hill Farm 


103 


'‘Ye do? Wa^al, ^tain^t much of a story, 
but 1^11 tell ye what thar be on^t. It seems 
the man what lives on the Joe Yorkin farm 
give ole Mrs. Balson sum winter apples, 
providin’ she’d pick ’em up. So she borrowed 
Jake Turner’s ole sorrel hoss an’ she an’ ole 
Polly Mannin’ started to git the apples. 
She got along all right an’ filled the wagin 
heapin’ full — they believed in gittin’ a-plenty 
while they was about it. Wa’al, as I said, 
they got the wagin heapin’ full an’ started 
fer home. They got along all right till they 
cum to a steep hill just below the Joe Mannin’ 
place. ’Tis a steep one, now, I can tell ye; 
’most as steep as the roof of a house. Here 
she stopped an’ looked at the leetle ole hoss, 
then at the hill. 

"'Laws, Polly,’ she drawled out, 'this 
leetle hoss can’t never hold this heavy 
wagin in the world! Guess we’d better git 
out an’ do it ourselves.’ So they took the 
leetle ole hoss out of the thills. Then old 
Mrs. Balson got between the thills herself 
an’ Polly she pushed or pulled back from be- 
hind the wagin. Wa’al, they started, an’ as 
the wagin gained speed accordin’ to the steep- 
ness o’ the hill the ole ladies began to light out 


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an^ take longer steps until they fairly flew — 
ole Polly kickin^ up the dust behind. They 
both held their gait pretty well till they cum 
to the steepest pitch on the hill, then Twarn’t 
no use. Ole Mrs. Balson stubbed her toe, an’ 
down she fell. Polly went down when she 
stubbed agin ole Mrs. Balson, an’ the wagin 
went right on an’ fetched up agin the stun- 
wall an’ stove the hull contraption all to 
pieces. It just rained apples in them parts 
fer some time.” 

Was she hurt?” I inquired. 

^^Hurt? No. She fell under the wagin, 
an’ arter a while she crawled out from under 
Polly an’ looked arund in a dazed sort o’ 
way an’ drawled out, ^Law, Polly, I didn’t 
think the ol’ thing would act like that.’ An’ 
that daughter o’ hers, Matildy, was up top 
o’ the hill an’ see the hull performance an’ 
’most died a-laughin’ when she tol’ me on’t. 
Said she’d a mother that was game every 
time. Wa’al, here I be a-runnin’ on an’ I 
ain’t no idee when to stop arter I git started 
on them ole stories. Now I be a-goin’. 
Say, cum over an’ bring yer comp’ny; Wife’d 
be powerful glad to see her.” 


CHAPTER XI 


August, according to Ebenezer, the 
month to rest up arter hayin’ an’ to go around 
the country an’ see what yer neighbors be 
a-doin’.” 

Eleanor and I had '^gadded around” but 
we did not know much about what our 
neighbors ^‘was a-doin’.” Cousin Tom had 
come and Will Elliott had planned to be at 
home as much as he could during the month of 
August. 

Tom and Eleanor seemed to have so much 
to talk about that they gravitated towards 
each other in a most shameless manner. I 
should have been neglected if Will Elliott 
had not come over quite often and talked to 
me, and I often wondered what he thought 
about Tom and Eleanor, for even Ebenezer 
wanted to know “ how long they had been 
keepin’ comp’ny.” 

One day Cousin Tom and Eleanor went off 
for a walk, leaving me alone. It was very 
105 


106 


Round Hill Farm 


still on the veranda and I lay in the hammock 
trying not to feel lonesome and watching a 
swallow as it circled up and up in the hazy 
atmosphere, then down, down, until near the 
treetops, when it would spread its wings again 
and sail away out of sight. The breeze gently 
stirred the wistaria vine to and fro and swayed 
the last rose of summer’’ on my late blooming 
Jack Rose bush in a most bewitching way 
before my admiring eyes. A saucy wren 
sat on a fence post across the road, twittering 
constantly. He seemed never to tire of 
singing to keep up the spirits of his family. 
He was a wee, small bird to make so much 
noise from early morning until the late twi- 
light of our long summer days. He sang the 
same tune over and over. 

I lay there gazing across to the fields where 
Tom and Will Elliott had laid out a golf 
course but a day or two previously, when I 
heard footsteps and recognized at once who 
was coming. 

^^Ah, there comes Ebenezer. Now I shall 
have someone to talk to me. I wish the 
saucy wren would stop.” I was particulaily 
pleased to see the old gentleman for I had not 
seen him for several days. 


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107 


^^Wa^al, takin’ yer comfort, be ye?^’ 

'^Yes, that is what I am trying to do/’ 

''I’ve cum over to ask what them wooden 
crosses be with numbers on ’em an’ what the 
flags is fur, that the boys have stuck up 
round in the meadows an’ pastures.” 

" That is a game called golf.” 

"A game? Wa’al, I swan! When I was 
a young man, I didn’t git no time to play 
games. A game! How times do change.” 

"Would you like to learn to play?” 

"Me learn? No — not much! I ain’t got 
no fancy stockin’s an’ short trousers the 
same’s the boys be rigged out in.” 

"They are not necessary,” I said, laughing 
at the funny expression on his dear, old face. 

"Wa’al, ’tain’t no use to urge me. If I 
can’t play rigged out the same’s the boys be, 
I shan’t try. Whew, if this ain’t a scorchin’ 
day! This verandy is the coolest place I’ve 
struck today. If thar’s a breeze anywhar ye 
do git it here. I think we’ll be gittin’ thunder 
an’ lightin’ afore long. Don’t ye hear that 
cuckoo over in the woods?” 

" Yes, I have been listening to it for some 
time.” 

"Wa’al, when ye hear one on them birds 


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it gener’ly indercates a powerful hot spell 
followed by thunder an’ lightin’. Now, ye 
just see if I ain’t right. Now, I must be 
a-goin’ ’cause I’ve got to finish hoein’ that 
north field of corn, but I was mad afore I 
cum over. I’d been out to that cornfield.” 

^^Why, what made you mad? You do not 
look angry. What was the matter with the 
cornfield?” 

^'Wa’al, thar was matter enough to make 
anyone mad. How long is that cousin of 
yourn to stay around this neighborhood? He 
an’ William do act just like two boys possessed. 
An’ they be both on ’em ole enough to behave, 
if they’re ever goin’ to.” 

^^What did they do to your cornfield?” I 
asked. 

^'Wa’al, ye see, while I was gone to the 
village this mornin’ tradin’, them two villain- 
ous young men — that be ole enough to let 
other folks’s belongin’s alone — got James to 
help ’em try that new boss I traded fer the 
other day. William said it was balky when 
I first brought it home. So they thought 
they’d be smart an’ cultivate out that field 
of corn, an’ now I wish you could see the 
condition of it. The boss is a great, big- 


Round Hill Farm 


1(W 


footed critter an^ it stomped my corn all up. 
Never did see such a lookin' mess in all 
my born days. Guess they had more'n one 
fracus with it, 'cause the com is stomped up 
in places, all over the hull field. Blame a 
balky boss anyway!" 

^^Did you say anything to William about 
it?" 

‘^No, I ain't seen him. I thought I'd 
find him over here. 'Twouldn't do no good 
if I had. He'd just laugh an' like-enuff do 
it ag'in. 

^'Talkin' of balky bosses makes me think 
of ole Jed Brownson. Ever heard tell of 
him?" 

^^No, I think not. If it is a story, please 
tell it to me." 

^^Wa'al," he began, after settling himself 
comfortably against the veranda post, ^Hhey 
do say that Jed was the greatest hoss-trader 
that ever was. Smart was no name fer it. 
He was just over-did with smartness. Father 
said that when Jed took to boss- tradin' the 
world lost a good minister. Why, he could 
beat any minister I ever heard talk in meetin'. 
He was the most all-round gifted man I ever 
knowed. He an' the new ministers would 


no 


Round Hill Farm 


get to be great friends until they knowed him 
better. Wa’al, I heard father tell once thar 
was a revivalist here a-holdin’ meetings. 
An^ one day Jed offered to give the minister 
a ride home. It was quite a long w^ays where 
the minister was a-stayin^, so he gladly 
accepted. They rode quietly along talkin’ 
Scripture — couldn’t no parson talk Jed down 
— when the boss took a notion to balk up. 
Then it stood an’ wouldn’t budge an inch. 
Jed tried all the quiet, gentle things he could 
think on but ’twant no use — the boss just 
humped his back an’ wouldn’t stir a foot. 
Fin’ly Jed lost his temper an’ began to swear 
an’ lash the critter — an’ they do say that 
he was just as gifted at swearin’ as he was at 
talkin’ Scripture when he once got a-goin’ an’ 
a little more so when he was good an’ warmed 
up an’ right down to business. The minister 
stood an’ looked on dumfounded. Fin’ly he 
says, ^Brother, haven’t ye fergotten yer- 
self?’ 'No, sir-ree!’ shouted Jed; 'when I 
talk religion I talk religion, but when I drive 
boss I lay my religion one side!’ an’ he went 
on a-swearin’ an’ larrupin’ the critter ag’in. 

" Thar, I be a-goin’. Whar be yer comp’ny? 
Ha, yonder cums William. I guess he be 


Round Hill Farm 


111 


a-goin’ to invite ye all to a picnic, ^cause he 
said he might want the bosses tomorrow.'' 
So saying he went off by way of the road as 
William came up the garden path. 

Ebenezer was right, as usual. Will Elliott 
said he had come over to inquire if we would 
like a day's outing to a glen in the woods he 
had discovered on one of his fishing excursions 
after trout. I told him I thought it would 
be delightful, that we would talk it over 
with the others in the evening, and asked 
him if we could take our lunch and make a 
day of it. He said that was just what he 
wanted to do, and that it was a cool, dark 
ravine and the very place to go on a hot sum- 
mer day. I went into the house and con- 
sulted Aunt Jane about the lunch. The 
more I thought about it the more excited I 
grew. 

As Eleanor and Tom did not appear. Will 
Elliott suggested that we play a game of 
golf and possibly we might overtake them. 


CHAPTER XII 


The next day was warm but pleasant. 
Eb3nezer Palmer and his wife, Aunt Jane, 
Will Elliott and I started for the woods in 
the three seated buckboard; Cousin Tom and 
Eleanor in Will Elliott’s buggy. Aunt Jane 
and Mrs. Palmer were in the back seat of 
our buckboard. Ebenezer was jammed in 
with the lunch on the middle seat, much to 
his annoyance. He said he didn’t like to 
trust his old bones to anyone’s driving, even 
William’s, but for once William was having 
his own way with the old man. Will Elliott 
helped me to the front seat so I could take 
lessons in driving, he said. 

^^Fur heaven’s sakes, don’t let her drive! 
I can’t trust this load to no greenhorn’s 
drivin’.” Ebenezer was like many other old 
and experienced horsemen — he liked to have 
the reins in his own hands. 

At last everything was ready and we drove 
gaily away down the dusty road. Cousin 
112 


Round Hill Farm 


lit 


Tom and Eleanor were driving slowly along 
in front of us, and I imagined as I watched 
them from my comfortable seat in the buck- 
board that I could see saucy little Cupid 
sitting on the back of the buggy seat, tickling 
Cousin Tom^s ear with the feather end of his 
troublesome arrow, and making him think 
and consider by whispering, How would you 
like to have such a pleasant companion to 
go with you all the remaining journey of 
your life?^' Little they knew or saw of the 
beautiful wild flowers growing along the high- 
way that filled my heart with gladness and 
little they knew of the locust crying ^‘Hot! 
Hot!^’ in the bunch of alders by the road- 
side. They were together, and that was joy 
enough. 

I was brought out of my pleasant dream by 
Ebenezer calling out, Seems to me ye ain't 
very sociable over on the front seat." If he 
could not drive he wanted to talk. Aunt 
Jane and Mrs. Palmer's conversation did not 
seem to interest him sufficiently. 

I laughed and looked up, meeting Mr. 
Elliott's questioning eyes. 

was looking at the beautiful flowers 
growing along the roadside. That August 


114 


Round Hill Farm 


goldenrod waves to us from every fence 
comer along the road.” 

^^It is of no use,” Will Elliott responded 
with just a little sadness and dejection in his 
voice and manner, Miss Lester will not talk 
to us if there is a weed in sight.” 

^Wery well, I will overlook the weeds if 
you will let me drive.” 

It was a long, level stretch of road. He 
deliberately passed the lines over to me. 

^^Now, hold them so. I see that father 
has not been thorough when he has given 
you lessons in driving.” Our hands were 
considerably mixed up before the lesson was 
finished. 

^^May the Suffering Powers protect our ole 
bones!” growled Ebenezer, when he found 
out that I was driving. ^^An^, William, re- 
member that off boss will jump at almost 
nothin\ IPs a dreadful skittish critter.” 

Mr. Elliott went on with his instmctions 
and did not seem to hear the old man. It 
was up hill over half of the way. The poor 
horses must have been tired of climbing first 
one hill and then another. After one long 
pull we turned in at a gateway and drove 
across a rough pasture. Huckleberries were 


Round Hill Farm 


115 


growing in great abundance on each side of the 
cart path. Each little bush was bending 
with the weight of so many berries. We 
stopped to pick some and Ebenezer climbed 
around to the front seat and took the loose 
reins with a look of relief and pleasure and 
proceeded to drive the horses down each 
steep hill until they came to a house in the 
valley. 

Will Elliott and I walked slowly down the 
cart path behind them, and I stopped to 
look at a great clump of barberry bushes, 
the clusters of berries looking so beautiful 
shading from a pale pink to a deep, rich red. 
Each little cluster seemed to radiate color 
in the bright, August sunshine. 

Please, Miss Lester, remember this is a 
holiday. It is wrong to study on a holiday. 
We are going to the woods and everyone 
should be gay, but how can I be if you refuse 
to talk to me? You may consider me a weed 
if you will be so unkind. In fact, I will be 
any kind of a weed if you will talk to me and 
think of me as you do of them.’’ 

^Wery well, I will try.'’ I laughed at his 
plaintive and pleading voice. I don^t think 
I will consider you a wild weed, but a nice, 


116 


Round Hill Farm 


old-fashioned friend that grows in your moth- 
er's garden/' (and here I looked at him an 
instant to see if I dared say it) it is called — 
it is called — ^Sweet William'!" As I said 
that I started off after the buckboard which 
was a little ahead of us. 

^^Here, here! Wait! I have taken my 
hat off and I want you to see how I look when 
I am embarrassed. Please won't you shake 
hands?" 

I gave him my hands for an instant, then 
darted away after a butterfly basking on a 
bunch of indigo. 

A minute or two later we had overtaken 
the others. They were getting out of the 
buckboard. Tom and Eleanor who had 
stopped to pick berries also were waiting for 
us. The horses were left in the good man's 
barn. We took the lunch and other para- 
phernalia and made our way across a small 
meadow, then through the thick bushes along 
the bank of a brook until we came to the 
entrance to a ravine. We made our way 
along the brook, through the miniature can- 
yon until we came upon a wider space where 
the brook widened out into a small pond. 
Here we decided to eat our lunch, so we left 


Round Hill Farm 


117 


our belongings and as it was still early, went 
on to explore the ravine. 

Everywhere — on the rocks in the path, 
along the brookside and up the slopes and 
ledges — was a fine, soft, green moss and out 
of this thousands of small ferns were grow- 
ing. We were in the midst of what Thoreau 
called the cheerful community of the poly- 
pody fern/^ How welcome to the feet was 
this soft carpet, and how restful to the eye! 

Great boulders presented an almost insur- 
mountable barrier and sometimes we were 
obliged to cross to the other side of the brook 
on stepping stones. Tall hemlocks were 
growing from the water’s edge up the side of 
the ravine. They grew very high, veritably 
stretching their arms to reach the sunlight 
above. Underbrush was scarce, there being 
only an occasional small hemlock which had 
successfully overcome all obstacles. 

^^How the water must rush down through 
here after a hard rain,” Tom remarked, 
^^and one would imagine its noise as it came 
thundering down through this rocky cut, 
dashing against the great bouldem that had 
withstood even the water’s fury and refused 
to move.” 


118 


Round Hill Farm 


Ebenezer helped his wife along over the 
slippery places. Mr. Elliott divided his atten- 
tion and assistance between Aunt Jane and 
me, while Tom gave his undivided attention 
to Eleanor, preceding the rest of the party. 

Some do ^stan^ on slippery places V’ quoted 
Ebenezer as he extended his hand to his wife 
to help her across, when the moss on the 
stone gave way, his arms flew up and waved 
wildly in the air, and off he slipped into the 
water. He would have fallen full length 
backwards if his step-son had not come to 
his rescue and braced him firmly from behind. 

say, old man,’^ laughed the disrespectful 
son, “^Let him that thinketh he standeth 
take heed lest he falE.^' 

But the old man was not to be outdone. 
He returned, DonT ye be so smart, William, 
but just remember that Wain is the help of 
manV’ and while we enjoyed the fun, he 
busied himself re-adjusting his wearing apparel 
that had become decidedly disarranged during 
his enforced gymnastics. Soon we were on 
our way again, but we could hear the water, 
‘‘slush, slush,’^ every time he put his wet foot 
to the ground. 

“Was William bothering you?^' I heard 


Round Hill Farm 


119 


Mrs. Palmer inquire in her quiet, soothing 
voice. 

“Hm, William thinks it necessary to jog 
my memory altogether too often.^' 

^^Not at all,^^ protested William, ^^but 
wouldn’t it be a good idea to empty the water 
out of your shoe? If you will sit down, I 
will take the shoe off for you.” 

^^Wa’al, that be a kinder good idee. My 
feet don’t seem to balance somehow.” 

Ebenezer looked at his step-son with a 
twinkle in his eye. The young man returned 
the look and smiled, and peace was restored 
once more. 

Tom and Eleanor had gone a little way up 
the brook and were gaily laughing at the 
unsuccessful attempts they made in trying 
to spear a fish with a sharpened stick. 

We slowly continued our journey up the 
ravine until we came to a level plain covered 
with thick wood and underbrush. 

^^This is all,” said our self-appointed guide, 
Mr. Elliott. 

We wandered back slowly as we came. 
Here and there a bright spot of sunlight came 
to us through the tall tree-tops, reminding 
us that it was the hour for lunch. The men 


12t 


Round Hill Farm 


soon had a good fire burning and the appe- 
tizing odor of coffee and broiled ham was 
wafted to us by the breeze. 

We lingered a long time over our ^unch. 
The sun was hot over head, but the trees were 
thick with leaves and a faint breeze came to 
us from the pond. 

After we packed away what remained of 
our lunch, Cousin Tom read aloud to us from 
a book Eleanor had brought, we listening in a 
lazy, dreamy silence. 

He had been reading some time when 
Eleanor, either from mischief or because she 
was tired of the book, and did not find any- 
thing more entertaining to do, gave a large, 
thick bush near her a violent shake, and almost 
immediately there swarmed out from the op- 
posite side of the bush a great mass of furious 
black bees, filling the air with their angry buzz. 

Hornets!’’ shouted Tom. He began fight- 
ing them with his hat, and seizing a carriage 
robe, threw it over Aunt Jane in the hammock. 
Will Elliott was just as busy; off came his 
coat, and he tucked it around his mother and 
over her head. 

'^Get under this blanket!” he commanded 


me. 


f 



“The men soon had a good fire burning” 







Round Hill Farm 


121 


No quicker said than done. I lost no time 
in getting under the thick carriage robe, 
leaving space enough to peep out at the others. 

When Eleanor realized what she had done, 
she screamed and began to run, a swarm of 
angry bees following her. Elliott and Tom 
fought their way to her, using their felt hats 
to great advantage. I laughed heartily at 
their frantic endeavors, but it was no laughing 
matter to them. Cousin Tom picked Eleanor 
up in his arms, and instead of carrying her 
to a place of safety, he stood holding her as 
if he never meant to let her go, or had lost 
the power of locomotion. 

'^Run, Tom, do!’^ coaxed Eliiott. He was 
rushing hither and thither, waving his hat 
and a dish-towel which had hastily snatched 
from the lunch-basket frantically trying to 
protect Tom and his precious burden. At 
that, Tom came to his senses, and began to 
run. 

In the meantime, Ebenezer was on the 
field, with the enemy in full command. He 
had taken off his coat, and covered up his 
head but the bees had squirmed up his shirt 
sleeves and pants^ legs. He was making 
wild and weird gestures. His dancing was 


122 


Round Hill Farm 


vigorous and startling. Out from under the 
coat, muttering that sounded to my ears 
rather profane flowed constant and pro- 
longed. 

^^Run to the pond!’^ I shouted to him. 
He seemed to understand, and went; the 
others were waiting there. 

Will Elliott, supposing that they were a 
safe distance, came back after his mother and 
Aunt Jane. He hurried them along with 
their heads still covered with the coats to the 
bank of the pond. 

But it was no use; the bees were determined 
to have their revenge; they all gathered to- 
gether and followed, and then on the bank 
of the pond, a mighty battle was fought. It 
was not a fair fight, for the bees outnumbered 
their enemies a hundred to one. I saw it all, 
and in my safe retreat, laughed and cried 
until I was a fit subject for an asylum. 

Ebenezer Palmer, in a fit of desperation, 
jumped into the pond. Silence reigned su- 
preme for a moment; then his head appeared 
above the water like a huge pond-lily. 

^‘Pull for the shore, old man,^^ shouted his 
disrespectful step-son; ^^or shall we ^throw 
out the life line^?” 


Round Hill Farm 


123 


Don’t ye bother about me, young man. 
I lamed to swim afore ye was bom; and mind 
ye keep an eye on yer mother.” 

Then he watched the retreat of the gallant 
fighters with a broad grin, and seemed in no 
hurry to leave the protecting safety of the 
pond. After a time he was persuaded to land; 
then they all disappeared out of my sight, 
going to the farm-house where the horses 
were and I seemed to be left deserted on the 
field of battle. 

Aiter a time Will Elliott came looking for 
me. 

^^Aj^ you hurt?” he inquired anxiously. 

'^No, not a sting.” 

^^Then let us get away from here.” 

Before I followed him, I took one last, 
long look up the little glen, so dark and cool 
and musical with the mnning of the little 
brook; I did not want to go to that other 
world outside of this fairy grotto. 

Where are the others,” I inquired. 

^^They have gone home. Father was so 
wet it was best to hurry him home. I will 
take you home in the buggy that Tom came 
in, if you do not mind.” 

^^No, I do not mind.” Then I followed 


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him along the fem-grown path in silence; 
I was glad the others were gone, and there 
was no need to hurry. 

you will come around the end of the 
pond, I will show you the most beautiful 
picture I ever looked at.^’ 

I happened to look at him, and saw a 
mischievous twinkle in his easily ignited 
eyes; then I forgot all about him. I was 
walking along the edge of the pond, and hap- 
pened to look into the water. ^^Ah!” I 
exclaimed; then bending over so I could get 
a better view, I saw reflected in nature's 
mirror, drooping grasses, and small shrubs 
almost covered with climbing hempweed in 
bloom. The vines were climbing and twining 
over ever}^ thing that would support them; 
the pink and white blossoms were suspended 
in mid-air over the smooth surface of the 
water, and their feathery loveliness was 
reflected from the deep, dark depth below. 
^^Is that the picture you referred to?" 

'^No, mine is more beautiful than that. 
Ah! here it is. Now bend over and take a 
good look straight down into the water." 

I did as he told me, and saw myself reflected 
in the clear water — nothing else — from this 


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125 


steep bank, except part of his face over my 
shoulder and the sky. 

I was disgusted at my own stupidity, but 
he seemed so delighted that I finally laughed 
with him. 

^^Ah! that^s right, smile; it makes the 
picture more beautiful.^^ 

Just then some soil and small stones gave 
way, and fell into the water and rippled its 
smooth surface. Lightly our faces swayed 
to and fro, as the little ripples chased each 
other across the shimmering smoothness of 
the little pond. 

Isn’t that a most exquisite picture?’’ he 
asked, his eyes still on the reflected faces. 

It was a nice picture; he was just impressing 
upon me what he considered a fact. 

^^Oh, come along! I have had enough of 
your blarney; I had rather look at land- 
scapes; there is more to them; portraits are 
not in my line. Come! It is time to go 
home.” 

I walked along, and he was obliged to 
follow me with the remark that I wasn’t 
very polite; he always admired my land- 
scapes; why couldn’t I admire his favorite 
portraits? 


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When we were in sight of our own home, 
showing faint and dim in the twilight, he 
wanted to know if my day in the woods had 
been all I had anticipated it to be. 

I said that it had, and more. 


CHAPTER XV 


^^Aunt Jane, may I invite Ebenezer 
Palmer’s family over to tea this afternoon? 
It is Tom’s birthday and I think we ought to 
celebrate some way.” 

"'Why, yes,” she replied, ^^if you want 
them. I think it a good idea myself.” 

I knew she would have something good. I 
offered to help but she said that she and Susan 
would do all that was necessary. I was soon 
on my way to Ebenezer Palmer’s, and had 
gone about half way when I saw the old man 
coming, so I waited for him. 

‘^Hi thar!” he called; ‘'is thar any excite- 
ment or anything more’n common a-goin’ 
on over to yer house that makes ye hurry 
so?” 

“ Oh, no, I was coming to invite you all to 
tea. It is Cousin Tom’s birthday and I 
thought that it would be nice to celebrate.” 

“Grand idee! William has gone to the 
blacksmith to git his boss shod. He’ll be 
127 


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back by noon or a bit later, but Wife, she’s 
to home so ye can arrange it with her.” 

^'All right — ” and I started on my way. 

^‘Say, thar, wait a minute! Is thar anyone 
over to yer house that can turn a grindstone? 
I want to sharpen this bush scythe.” 

^^No, I don’t think there is. Cousin Tom 
has been gone some time. Can’t I do it?” 

Guess ye can, but ye needn’t. I kin git 
along some way.” 

‘^Yes, I will come back and help you. 
Then I will write a note and you can take it 
over,” and I walked back with him to where 
the grindstone stood under an apple-tree in 
the orchard. He put a little water on the 
stone and I turned the crank. His tongue 
and the stone commenced to go at the same 
time. 

Guess I won’t bear down very hard, ’cause 
if I do ye’ll git tired mighty quick. William 
alius did hate to turn this grindstun, but he 
done it, jest the same. He’s been a dreadful 
good boy.” 

^^That makes it easy for you,” I said. 

^^Wa’al, the idee on’t was he had the right 
kind of a mother. He couldn’t help bein’ 
good, nohow. Wife’s father was ole Squire 


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129 


Potter an’ he belonged to one of the first 
families. The ole Squire was dreadful proud 
spurited, an’ William, he’s a perfec’ picture 
of him. Yes, William’s clear Potter. Wife 
an’ I went to distric’ school together an’ she 
was the prettiest gal in the hull school. She 
went to boardin’ school arter that an’ I had 
to stay to home an’ work. I alius was a 
great, overgrown, awkward boy, an’ arter 
we got older I didn’t stan’ no chance with 
Pai*son Elliott’s son. He had more book 
learnin’ an’ citified ways. She chose him 
instead of me, an’ he made her a good husband, 
too, only he hadn’t no calc’lation about gittin’ 
along — couldn’t seem to make much money, 
or keep it arter he did git any, an’ arter he 
died, she an’ the leetle boy had pretty hard 
times a-gittin’ along. So, arter a while I 
persuaded her to marry me, an’ let me help 
edicate the boy. I tol’ her I’d edicate him 
any way he wanted us to, an’ I did it. It 
cost a lot o’ money gittin’ him through 
college, but we fin’ly did it, an’ I tell ye, I’m 
pretty proud of the job!” 

Yes, Cousin Tom said he was the smartest 
scholar in his class.” 

^'Took arter his father fur book learnin’, 


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an’ arter his grandfather Potter fur shrewd- 
ness. Sufferin’ Peter, how that boy did 
take to swappin’ afore he was knee-high to a 
johnny-cake! He could beat me swappin' 
bosses when he was fifteen. A real, good 
judge of hoss-flesh gits took in middlin’ often, 
but he didn’t git cheated any oftener than 
more experienced hands at the business. He 
was alius partic’lar, though, about his word. 
He was nat’rally truthful. If we could only 
git a promise out of him he would keep his 
word if it killed him. Thar! that scythe be 
sharp enough,” and he drew his finger carefully 
along the edge. ^^Ye needn’t turn the stun 
eny more. Much obliged to ye. Ye done 
first rate.” 

^^You are welcome,” I laughed; guess 
you didn’t bear down very hard, for I^didn’t 
mind it at all.” 

Maybe not. Now I’ll sit down an’ wait 
while ye go in an’ git yer note ready ’cause I 
might forgit to speak about it.” 

^^You will be sure to come over with the 
others?” I asked when I returned with the 
note. 

^^Wa’al, maybe; but I ain’t no han’ to 
visit — though I thank ye jes’ the same.” 


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131 


He went down across the meadow on his 
way to the pasture, with the scythe over his 
shoulder. 

It was late in the afternoon of the same 
day. Mrs. Palmer and Aunt Jane were 
busily sewing at one end of the veranda. 
Will Elliott sat on the veranda steps reading 
a paper while I sat in a little willow chair 
reading a letter which Will Elliott had brought 
in the mail when he came back from the 
blacksmith^s. I had just finished the letter 
and looked up to say something when I saw 
Ebenezer Palmer coming up across the 
meadow. He was walking very rapidly for 
him and something about him caught my 
attention. He seemed greatly excited. Some- 
thing had happened, I felt sure. Will Elliott 
stood up to see what I was looking at and an 
anxious look spread across his face. The 
bush scythe was over Ebenezer’s shoulder 
and he carried a tin can in the other hand. 

^^Come,’^ I whispered so Mrs. Palmer would 
not hear. I ran down the garden path fol- 
lowed by Mr. Elliott. Visions of a horrible 
cut from the sharp scythe went through my 
mind as I hurried on and other thoughts of 
something equally terrible having occurred. 


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'^Tell me!” I demanded, when we were 
within hearing distance. Will Elliott had 
caught up with me and was holding my hand 
tightly, with the idea, I suppose, of detaining 
me if the accident was too horrible for me to 
see. 

Ebenezer did not heed us but kept on, his 
breath coming fast and the perspiration 
running down his face. We followed on 
after him. Will Elliott still holding my hand 
tightly and both of us looking for signs of 
an accident and wondering what it all meant. 

''Oh, do tell us!” I implored, as he sank 
down on the veranda steps. Mrs. Palmer 
and Aunt Jane had come up by this time to 
hear what the trouble was. Even they could 
see that something had happened. 

" Wa^al,” he finally gasped out, "He^s done 
it!” 

"Done what? Who?” I demanded. 

"Proposed!” 

"Who?” 

"Why, yer cousin. He^s proposed at last!” 

The reaction caused Will Elliott to drop 
my hand and me to sit down very abruptly. 
Finally I asked in wonderment how he knew. 

" I guess ye^d know if ye^d sot in that hot 


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133 


sun as long as I did. The only wonder is 
that I was able to git here at all. I wouldn't 
live through another sech time if I knowed 
the hull town would git mad, an' I wonder 
myself, now, how I stood it." 

'^It is a pity about you, old man!" said 
Will Elliott, with a frown of disapproval. 
This brought a sparkling twinkle to the old 
man's eyes. 

^^Come, tell us all about it, please do!" 
I coaxed in a wheedling tone. 

Will Elliott looked disapprovingly at me 
but it was of no use. I was determined to 
hear all about it. Aunt Jane and Mrs. 
Palmer were not above hearing about it, 
either, I noticed. 

^^Wa'al, it was this way. I was a-cuttin' 
brush along the stun-wall where our pasture 
j'ines yourn. I'd been at it some time when 
I cum to a great, thick clump right alongside 
the barway, so afore I begun to cut 'em, I 
thought I'd git a drink out o' this tin can 
here an' rest up a bit. Wa'al, I set down 
on a great stun an' took up this can to drink 
when somethin' cum 'plunk!' right in front 
of me. Moses an' the Prophets! I thought, 
s'pose that had hit me on the head ! I picked 


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it up an’ made up mind that it was a golf 
ball, an’ someone must be playing. I waited 
a minute or two thinking they would be arter 
it, and sure enough, they cum but instead of 
lookin’ for the ball they sot down on the other 
side of the barway with that thick clump of 
brush between us. I thought I might scare 
’em so I sat still. They had talked some 
time when I edged around to see which on 
ye it was,” (here the old man looked at 
William with an amused, knowing look that 
provoked me a good deal for an instant) 
an’ I found out as I said. She was a-pinnin’ 
a posey on the front of his coat an’ seemed 
powerful particular how she done it, an’ 
he was a-lookin’ at her so steady an’ earnest 
like ye’d think he never’d sot eyes on her 
afore, when everybody knowed they ain’t 
done nothin’ else but jest smile at each other 
since they’ve been here — an’ how ye all can 
stand it is past my calc’lations! 

'^Wa’al, to go on, he asked fin’ly — ^Do 
ye know what would be the most precious 
birthday present I could have?’ ^No, really,’ 
she said back to him, an’ at that he grabbed 
right on to her hands an’ held on!” 

We were all in spasms of laughter by this 


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135 


time, he had acted out the entire scene. 
Even the disapproving son was almost in 
convulsions. As soon as we quieted down a 
httle, Ebenezer went on. 

‘Sufferin' Jerusalem!' I said to myself, ‘it 
won't do to interrupt now' — an' I sot down 
again on that stun an' waited till that stun 
got so hard it wam't human nater to endure 
it no longer! So I riz up an' took another 
look. He had his arm aroun' her an' she had 
her head agin his shoulder an' he was a-sayin', 
‘Are ye sure ye love me?' an' she says, ‘Yes, 
sure!' while she wiped her eyes. What in 
canopy, if she was sure, she was a-sheddin' 
tears about is more'n I can understan' ! 
Fin'ly he asked, ‘Why do ye cry?' an' she 
says, ‘Because I'm so happy!' an', I vow, 
they kep' that right up till it warn't in human 
nater an' endurance to stand that hard stun 
no longer. Besides, I'd heard enough. It 
jest made me sick! 

So I crawled away on my hands an' knees 
an' here I be, though I don't b'lieve they 
would've heard a cannon if it had busted 
right under their noses, an' I know I shall 
be lamer tomorrow than I was when I chased 
that pig!" 


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dear! Oh, dear!” gasped Aunt Jane 
and Mrs. Palmer both. 

^'Can^t you remember any more? Please 
try!” I coaxed in a wheedhng tone again. 

Ain’t that enough? I vow, if you’d sot 
thar as long as I did you’d think it more’n 
enough!” Ebenezer’s little blue eyes were 
fairly dancing, and it was my opinion he had 
heard all that had been said. 

''Did Eleanor say yes?” 

" Must have, ’ ’ answered Ebenezer. " Thar 
they be a-comin’ up the road, now. Guess 
I’ll be a-goin’.” He took up the scythe and 
walked away rather fast for an old man that 
had "sot on a hard stun in the hot sun” for 
hours. 

"Say,” he called back to us, "I shan’t be 
back for tea.” 

"The old villain doesn’t dare to,” said 
Will Elliott, laughing and shaking his fist 
at the vanishing figure of the old man. Then 
he went and sat down beside his mother and 
we waited for Cousin Tom and Eleanor to 
come up. They both had a dreamy, pre-occu- 
pied look. This deadened their perceptions. 

"Let me put away your golf sticks,” said 
Aunt Jane to break the embarrassing silence. 


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137 


'^No, I will do that/^ said Tom with an 
air of possession that nearly upset us all 
again. He took the golf sticks and put 
them in the rack in the hall and did not come 
out again. 

guess I will go to my room and get 
ready for tea/' said Eleanor, meekly. 

‘‘Was it warm in the sun?" inquired Mrs. 
Palmer. 

“Not very/' she answered and went up- 
stairs. 

A little later Aunt Jane called us all to 
tea. Will Elliott did most of the talking. 
He did it, I think, to be good to Tom. Aunt 
Jane was busy with the tea things and did 
not look up as she said : 

“ It is too bad, Tom, to think you haven't 
had a single birthday present. Just think — 
a birthday and no present!" 

Tom's eyes stopped on their journey 
around the table when they met Eleanor's, 
and they told the same story we already 
knew so well that we avoided one anothers' 
eyes. 

“Where do you buy your tea?" inquired 
Mrs. Palmer, to relieve the tension. 

After that we managed to finish our supper 


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in safety. The lamps had to be lighted before 
we finished. Tom seemed to realize we were 
more joyous than usual. There was a look 
of contentment and even sweetness in his 
eyes and around his mouth that told us he 
was at peace with his present surroundings, 
if not with the whole world. 

When Will Elliott took his mother home, 
he said, as he bade Aunt Jane good-bye: 

wish someone else would have a birth- 
day. It was nice to come to tea, if we did 
not all have presents.^’ 

A little later out on the veranda in the 
slowly gathering darkness that hid our guilty 
faces. Cousin Tom told Aunt Jane and me of 
his engagement, and we were truly glad, for 
now Eleanor was one of the family by right. 
After a while I left them and slowly wandered 
down the garden path, feeling just a little 
lonesome. 

The moon was coming up over the hill 
beyond the valley, and the floating clouds 
made shadows of the shrubbery, casting a 
pale light on a man leaning over the garden 
gate. I thought there was something familiar 
about that dark shadow and I wandered 
slowly towards it. 


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139 


You ought to be afraid, wandering around 
the garden all alone,'' said he, and I recog- 
nized the voice of Will Elliott. 

am," I laughed. Then he opened the 
gate, came in and we walked up the path 
together. 

^^Will you come to the seat in the orchard? 
I want to talk something over with you." 

I assented, and we walked slowly to the 
seat under the trees. 

am glad you came back," I said, “for 
I was feeling lonesome. Tom and Eleanor 
do not want me — their engagement is too 
recent. After a little they will remember 
and be kind." 

“Look at the moon," he said. “There 
will not be a nice old moon like that in the 
city where I am going." 

So he was going away. I wondered where 
but did not ask. 

“ Someone is looking very nice tonight 
and we must not let anything happen to the 
gown." He dusted the bench with his hat. 

“Do you like my dress?" 

“Yes, and the one that wears it even 
better." 

“Thank you, that's really quite remark- 


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able!^^ I think he felt sufficiently foolish 
for having made such a remark for he sat 
down beside me and did not say anything 
for some time. There was no laughter in 
his eyes now. A wistful look changed the 
usual gladness of his face. 

^‘What was it you wanted to talk to me 
about?^’ 

wanted to tell you and Tom that I 
have to go away in the morning on business 
that cannot be put off.’’ 

^'For how long?” I was getting that lone- 
some feeling again. 

cannot tell. I may be gone a week, 
or I may be gone a month — possibly more. 
It will all depend upon circumstances. I 
shall stay and fight it out for it will mean 
a good lot of money coming my way. ” 

^‘What did you want me to do — wish you 
success?” 

'^Yes, that will help, but I wanted to say 
good-bye. I was just making up my mind 
to disturb Tom when I saw you walking in the 
garden.” 

'‘I want to ask you something,” I said; 
^^May I?” 

“What is it?” 


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141 


^'Why didn^t you let Tom know just 
where you lived and why didn^t you keep 
up the old friendship if you thought so much 
of each other 

^'Because I was sensitive. I know now 
that I was foolishly so. I was veiy young 
at the time — that is my only excuse. My 
people and I had always lived in a simple 
way and he was not accustomed to it. He 
and his people, I knew, had always lived a 
different sort of life from mine; they had 
plenty of money while my people did not, 
and I knew it was useless to begin what I 
could not keep up. Besides, my mother 
wanted me to stay at home.^^ 

“I knew it must have been your fault, 
for surely you knew where Tom was.^' 

''Yes, I know now that I ought to have 
kept up the friendship, but I hadn’t the 
money, as I have said, to live in Tom’s world 
so I kept out of it.” 

"Poor boy!” I laughed. "After all your 
good resolutions, Tom’s world came to you — 
moved in next door, in fact. But it wasn’t 
our fault, we didn’t know. Please do not 
blame us for it — it was just an accident.” 

"No, it wasn’t an accident; it was fate. 


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Come” he said, getting up quickly, ^^come 
before I make an idiot of myself! I must 
say good-bye to you and I can^t!’^ 

^^It isn^t late, what makes you hurry 
^^Don^t you understand it is because I 
don^t want to go? It has been the happiest 
time of my life, and I don’t want to miss a 
day of it. You and your people have been 
so good to me. This summer has been one 
long, happy dream and I want to thank you 
for your goodness to me and my people. 
And I thank you again for your charity.” 

He sat down again, with his elbow on his 
knee, his head resting on his hand, the moon- 
light shining on his face, looking up at me. 
I was startled at what I saw in the look; 
then my eyes evaded his. There was no 
mistaking his meaning; I could hear it in 
every intonation, every pause; and I grew 
fearfully diffident. 

You’ll be here when I come back, won’t 
you? You are not going back when Tom 
and Miss Roberts go, are you?” 

^^No, I intend to stay until October or 
possibly November; but you will let me say 
that Aunt Jane and I are both grateful to 
you and yours.” 


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143 


And — and there is nothing else? Nothing 
but friendliness and gratitude?^^ 

“N-o. Please do not make me sorry that 
I came; don^t spoil my summer, for it has 
been a dear and happy time/’ 

^^Ah! I understand,” he said, getting up 
again. Nothing so wonderful as your caring 
would actually happen; but promise me that 
you will think about it while I am away; 
won’t you?” 

I did not answer. 

^^Come,” he said gently, ^'we will go now, 
and tell Tom that I am going in the morning.” 

For a moment I hesitated; then I followed 
him silently out of the orchard, up the garden 
path to the veranda, where Tom sat smoking 
all alone. I said ^^Good night,” and left 
them to talk of their business, undisturbed; 
then I went to bed, but not to sleep. Little 
voices of the night, mingling with the odors 
of the garden, came in at the open window. 
I tried not to think — not yet — not even in 
my dreams did I want to know anything 
about the future — what it might be. 


CHAPTER XVI 


Vacation was over and Cousin Tom and 
Eleanor were gone. Aunt Jane and I had 
settled down to our quiet life once more. 
The fields of corn were fast disappearing and 
the apples were ripening in the late summer 
sunshine. On the highway and bordering 
the fields the goldenrod looked like a frame 
of gold. The woodbine on our garden wall 
was turning red, not to be outdone by Eben- 
ezer^s trumpet creeper, looking, as he said, 
as ^‘gay as a httle red wagon.^’ Sunshine 
and summer rains had hastened the harvest. 
The hot summer months had gone and with 
them most of my flowers. Poor old garden, 
its beauty was fast departing. The bed of 
zinnias were all that remained faithful until 
the last. As long as it rained occasionally, 
they turned their bright faces to the sun and 
seemed to say, Only love us and we will be 
faithful.^’ 

How I missed my friends. I wished they 
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146 


were like the poor — always with us — but 
the good things of this earth seemed to be 
dealt out with a miser’s hand. Mr. Palmer, 
poor man, appeared to miss them as much as 
I. Even my dog wandered about discon- 
tentedly refusing to eat or to be comforted, 
and Aunt Jane had been frankly dismal. 

There was something strange about Aunt 
Jane during the last few months. I had 
been so busy with my own affairs and my 
friends that I had not been as observing as 
usual, but I had noticed her and James talking 
quite earnestly and one afternoon they sat 
a long while on the rustic bench in the orchard, 
deep in an animated discussion over some- 
thing. 

I ran in after my field glasses, but real- 
izing that it would be mean to watch them, I 
went over to the Palmers’ to keep away from 
temptation. I felt quite sure she had found 
out about James and that he was looking for 
Uncle’s money, but would not tell me fearing 
it would make me afraid. I wished that I 
knew, for it would make it so much easier for 
both of us to work together, it seemed to me. 

Aunt Jane was a born aristocrat, whether 
she realized it or not, and I knew she had 


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too much family pride to fall in love with a 
servant. James as such a possibility was out 
of the question. There was some other solu- 
tion of the mystery. ^^Seek and ye shall 
find” Great-uncle commanded us. Possibly 
Aunt Jane had gone over to the enemy and 
was helping him. Well, it was nothing to 
me if she had. 

Aunt Jane was a very bright woman at fifty 
years of age and had always lived a life of com- 
parative leisure, so she must have some inde- 
pendent income, I concluded, in which case 
she perhaps had no real interest in the hidden 
treasure. I felt sure James could not deceive 
her very much, so they could hunt together 
if they were so inclined, and I would search 
alone. I would begin again and now, I de- 
termined, and finally I decided to search the 
cellar. 

I lighted a lantern and went below, resolved 
to look into the utmost recesses of that dark 
place. Quietly descending the stairs, having 
closed the door after me, I sat down on the 
last step to study the situation and plan 
where to begin work. It was a large cellar. 
Here and there I could see a faint light where 
a window had been boarded up. There was 


Round Hill Farm 


14 ? 

a deep corridor that extended under the long 
kitchen. All was still. The damp, chill air, 
the underground mustiness and the dark- 
ness gave me a creepy feeling. 

There were casks and boxes on the ground 
near the outer walls, and when the light from 
the lantern fell upon them they looked like 
grewsome ghosts in that tomb-like place. 
A great rat scurried across a patch of light, 
paralyzing me for a moment with terror. 

Then something of more importance hap- 
pened. Someone opened the outside cellar 
door at the far end of the long kitchen ex- 
tension. I hastily turned the lantern down 
and covered it with my dress skirt. Here, 
without a doubt, was my friend James. My 
chance was good to go back up the stairs if 
he came my way. My teeth chattered and 
the chills ran up and down my back at the 
rate of a thousand a minute. I thought of 
all the brave women I had ever read about 
in history to keep up my courage. I put 
my hand over my mouth so I should not 
scream if he came my way. Oh, how I did 
wish I had taken my revolver with me. I 
watched him coming towards me along the 
corridor. I did nc . like the thought of being 


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found alone in a dark cellar. I let him ap- 
proach, unconscious that he was being watched. 
My eyes opened wider and wider with excite- 
ment. I longed to run but was determined 
to see the end, whatever happened. 

When he was directly under the kitchen 
he stopped and listened ; then he tapped softly 
on the boards over his head three times. He 
repeated this twice. Then I heard an an- 
swering tap from above at which he walked 
back to the open door. I followed slowly and 
carefully, not making a sound. In the light 
of the open door I saw Susan. Not a word 
was spoken. They walked into the sun- 
light and out of my hearing. They talked 
for a minute; then he went off and she came 
into the house. 

I breathed, ^‘What does that 
mean?^^ One thing I was sure of — I had lost 
my desire to search the cellar. Aunt Jane or 
anyone else was welcome to explore that dark, 
grewsome place. 

I left the lantern on the cellar stairs. I 
did not care to face Susan just yet; I wanted 
to think it over first. I went to the veranda 
and looked down into the valley, and after a 
while, my thoughts were under better control 


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149 


and I could see things that had been confused 
before. 

Mr. Elliott had the key to the mystery. He 
said the day we found Grandmother^s picture 
that he did not know where Uncle^s money 
was, though he was sure there was some. I 
felt convinced that the Palmer family held 
themselves responsible for the money and 
that Will Elliott, when the time came to read 
the letter, wanted to pass it along to the one 
it belonged to. They perhaps felt that in the 
meantime the least said about it the better; 
so they had hired James to work for us and 
search for the money in a quiet way. But 
I vowed I would make him tell me if I ever 
saw him again. 

My mind thus set at rest, I began to realize 
how long he had been away. I wished he 
would come home. Even the beautiful au- 
tunm hues would have a richer, gayer tone 
if I had someone to enjoy them with me. 
Nature had come with her box of colors 
and had given the trees in the valley 
their first coat. I always thought of Mr. 
Elliott as a part of that picture. We saw it 
together the day I arrived. He saw the 
charm, the beauty and the restfulness of it 


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when it wore its winter browns and he would 
enjoy it now in its gay attire, and I wished 
him with me to see it before Jack Frost 
arrived. All but the dark green cedars would 
then gradually lose their mantles of glory. 
How restful, too, were those evergreens and 
how firm and steadfast, pointing upwards 
always. Lifting my eyes to the hillside, I 
noted the golden sunbeams shining on the 
fohage there, putting life and light into ever}" 
quivering branch and leaf and gradually 
merging into the purple line of the far away 
hills. 

^'Ah! yonder comes Mr. Palmer with the 
mail. With his cheery smile he chases away 
all sombre thoughts and makes one feel that 
the world is a pretty good place, after all.^’ 

^SSay,’^ he said, after a few moment^s con- 
versation, having settled himself comfortably 
on the doorstep and lighting his pipe; ^Hhey 
tell me ye be a-goin^ to have a church supper.’^ 

^^Yes, the ladies of the church have asked 
me to.” 

'^Hm! Wa^al, Pd like to advise yea bit 
and tell ye not to git up any extry. Ye see, 
it causes jealousies. I s^pose ye know it^s 
easy to stir up jealousies, though I don^t 


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s^pose they’d mind what ye did as they would 
each other that they’ve knowed all thar lives. 
Now I’ll give ye an example. Thar is an ole 
maid, Lucy Little. She thought she’d outdo 
her neighbors by havin’ hot house flowers. 
Had her table all decked out with ’em an’ the 
rest of the women that couldn’t afford to 
buy ’em was mad an’ jealous. Then thar was 
Mrs. Lawson. She had the next supper. She 
wouldn’t use the church dishes, so she went 
all ’round the neighborhood an’ borrowed 
everybody’s best silver an’ chiney, an’ I mus’ 
say that table beat anything I ever see. It 
was so bright an’ shinin’. Arter the lamps 
was lit. Lord o’ Mighty! how that table did 
shine. But that settled it — they ain’t had no 
church suppers since.” 

I asked if he and his wife would come. 

^‘Cum? Yes, to be sure we’ll cum, an’ I 
wanted to tell ye that I’m glad ye’ll bother 
with it, ’cause the ole church needs repairing 
dreadful.” 

^^Say,” he called, after he was down the 
garden path, “ I do hope William will be home 
so he can help ye.” 

Aunt Jane and I had attended divine ser- 
vices occasionally at the little country church 


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where Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had been mem- 
bers for years. The congregation was only a 
httle band of people, among them the old, 
white-haired deacon who always began his 
prayers with, '^IVe been on the road nigh 
unto forty years.’^ Dear old soul! His call 
to lay down his load, that the journey was 
over, soon came and he entered into his 
reward. 

The cemetery was on the sloping hillside 
near the church. Here Great-uncle rested, 
and a more peaceful or lovely spot could 
scarcely be imagined as the golden beams of 
sunlight fell upon it. 


CHAPTER X\TI 

The eventful day of the church supper 
arrived, and keeping Ebenezer^s advice ever 
in mind, we made our arrangements. We 
ventured to put on our best long table cloth 
and arrange the church dishes. 

At half-past seven the people began to 
arrive. By eight o’clock I was quite sure 
there were no more in the neighborhood to 
come, but they still came, even until ten 
o’clock. I afterwards learned that these late 
arrivals had come a long distance. Among the 
early comers were Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. The 
old man’s face was all animation and excite- 
ment. He went from room to room with a 
cheerful word to everyone. 

The ladies had arranged a short entertain- 
ment, having engaged a dear old couple to 
read to them. The old gentleman read a 
funny selection and was duly applauded. 
This was followed by a reading from the little 
153 


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woman — ^^The New Church Organ/' by Will 
Carlton and when the time arrived she 

“ Drawed her red bandanna out, 

And wiped her weeping eyes.” 

This was a great success and was applauded 
with enthusiasm. 

After the entertainment, the business of the 
evening began, and tableful after tableful was 
served until all had eaten. When everyone 
was busy I slipped out on to the veranda. 
It was quite late and the slender moon had 
dropped behind the far away hills. It was a 
starlit night and I was awed by the stillness 
and the peacefulness of the sleeping country. 
I stood there lost in a dream of the night 
when someone came up on the veranda and 
looked into the front room, and as he stood in 
the lamplight I could see that it was James. 

By the window inside stood Aunt Jane. 
After a moment James knocked softly on the 
glass, just loud enough to attract her attention 
and motioned for her to come out. Hesi- 
tating for an instant, she glided through the 
hall and out on to the porch. I kept perfectly 
still and was filled with amazement. What 
could it mean? 


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^‘Hush!^' she whispered, someone will see 
or hear us” 

don’t care if the whole world sees us. 
I wish it would, then you would end my 
misery. Ah, how like the old Jane that "l 
have always loved you look tonight! I have 
been looking at you from the outside all the 
evening. It is the same dress you wore 
twenty-five years ago tonight, or one like it. 
I remember that was gray.” 

^^No, ashes of roses.” 

Call it what you like, it is the same color 
and made almost like it. Your hair is ar- 
ranged the same only it is powdered with 
white now, but that does not make me love 
you any the less, but the more. You are 
the one woman and the only one that I ever 
loved. You know that, do you not?” 

Aunt Jane caught her breath and there was 
a sound like a sob. 

‘‘For twenty-five years you have known 
how I love you, yet you have not loved me 
enough to trust me. Twenty-five years! 
That is a long, long time to wait, dear.” 

“Yes, I know,” said Aunt Jane. “Ah! 
don’t I know?” 

“Do you trust me now?” 


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Hush I We must not stay here. I think 
I heard someone.'' 

Answer my question — think quickly!" 
do not want to answer tonight." 

^^Why, dear?" 

Because — " 

^‘It is our anniversary tonight and I must 
have that answer now or never. I shall not 
ask you again. I am waiting." 

^^Well — " she took a long breath. The 
stillness was intense. I held my breath. If 
the situation was not changed soon, I felt 
that I should scream. I wondered if it would 
not be a good thing to save Aunt Jane the 
pain of answering James. Of all men, a 
servant and an old lover of Aunt Jane, and 
she a descendant of one of the old families! 
She had always been regarded by her friends 
and in society as an elegant woman with 
inherited pride and social position. I won- 
dered if I were dreaming. Could it be that 
that woman so near to me that I could put my 
hand out and touch her was my Aunt Jane — 
my stately, correct aunt, actually listening to 
the suit of a servant! 

am waiting," he whispered softly in her 
ear, ^^do not be afraid — ^say it." 


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^'Perhaps I do/' With this Aunt Jane 
slipped under his arm and the next instant 
disappeared through the front door and was 
soon lost amid the assembled people. 

^^Ah, at last!" he murmured and walked to 
and fro, deep in thought. In the darkness I 
could not see his face, and I wondered how 
long I should have to stay there in the shadow 
of the vine. As he passed the lighted window, 
he drew his hand suddenly out of his pocket 
and something dropped to the floor. He turned 
and went down the steps, unheeding. I listened 
to the echo of his footsteps until they became 
faint in the distance. Then I stepped out of 
my hiding-place, picked up the wad of paper 
James had dropped and smoothed it out. It 
was a note of some kind about the size of a 
bill, possibly larger. I went around to the 
side door, and taking the paper to the light, 
read it. It was a returned cheque and 
said: '^Pay to the order of William Elliott 
Four Hundred Dollars." It was signed 

James N. Judson" and the date was June 
the 20th of that year. 

^'Judson!" Where and when had I heard 
that name? It kept running through my 
mind all the rest of the evening. 


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I watched Aunt Jane closely. There was 
a bright red spot on each cheek and her eyes 
were shining; otherwise she was her usual 
quiet self, going among the people with a 
pleasant word and smile. I had lost all 
interest in the supper and wished it was over. 

Ebenezer was still visiting among the evi- 
dently happy throng. 

^^What did I tell ye — didn^t I say thar 
wouldn’t be any trouble about your supper?” 
he exclaimed enthusiastically when he bade 
us good-night. '^It’s ’cause ye’ve got some 
gumption. Everything moved along tip-top, 
an’ I think we’ve took in quite a proper bunch 
of money.” 

I asked Aunt Jane what he meant by 
gumption” and she said she thought he 
meant common sense. 


CHAPTER XVIII 

All that night, asleep or awake, I dreamed 
and the name ^^Judson’^ seemed to come out 
of a mysterious distance. James North and 
Judson were one and the same man. James 
North was a servant; James North Judson 
was a very rich man. I could see it all clearly 
now. He was an old lover of Aunt Jane’s, 
and in order to be near her, he had put on 
the wig and played the part of a servant. Mr. 
Palmer’s family knew all about it. I won- 
dered how long she had known who he was, 
and determined to satisfy my curiosity in this 
regard. In the meantime, what should I 
do about it? Ought I to do anything? Why 
should I interfere? Still I knew I must. It 
was given to me to know that I was to help 
in some way; but how? He was a man with 
a quick temper. Perhaps that was what had 
stood between them all these years. ^^Do 
you trust me now?” he had asked her, and it 
had taken her twenty-five years to answer, 
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Perhaps/' I wondered if there had been 
silence all these years between them, and what 
it was that had kept them apart. 

The next morning Aunt Jane stayed in 
bed, complaining that she had a bad head- 
ache. Susan and I puttered around the 
house all the morning, I making frequent 
visits to Aunt Jane's room. She said she 
would be all right in a little while and not to 
bother; if she were left alone she thought a 
nap would cure her. So I darkened the room 
and went out to the garden, and here I found 
James wandering in an aimless way, up and 
down, up and down. I felt that I must inter- 
fere. I went over to a corner where there was 
a good seat and sat down. In a few minutes 
my mind was made up. 

James!" I called. ^^Come here. I have 
something to say to you." He came slowly 
and he looked anything but pleased. 

^^Sit down." He did as I requested. 

^^Here is something I found. Do you 
know who James North Judson is?" and I 
handed him the cheque I had found the previ- 
ous evening. 

He gave me a quick searching look, but 
answered quietly : The name sounds familiar. 


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101 


Perhaps after a while the particulars may 
come to me” 

think they will” I said, bending down 
and picking up a twig. was out on the 
veranda last evening when Aunt Jane and a 
man were talking about old times.^^ 

His breath stopped. I still played with 
the twig and did not look up. This gave him 
time to recover himself, for when I did look 
up, his face was calm and his manner com- 
posed. 

^^And who, may I ask, was the man?^^ 
Truly, I do not know, but I think I could 
guess. That name on the cheque has cleared 
up several things that have been a mystery 
to me all summer.^’ 

“You will excuse me,’’ he said grimly. “I 
must go and be earning my living or Mr. 
Palmer will discharge me.” 

“That is just what I have made up my 
mind to do for him. You may consider your- 
self discharged. It may interest you to know 
that Aunt Jane is expecting an old friend of 
hers to call, a Mr. Judson from the city, a 
gentleman she knew before she came here. 
My aunt Jane will not associate with ser- 
vants.” 


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'^Did she tell you to say that?^^ 

'^No, she does not know that I was on the 
veranda last evening and I shall never tell 
her. She is sick in bed this morning with a 
headache, and if there should be a letter or 
a note or anything that would make her 
happy to read, I will see that she has it.’^ 

His eyes were kept straight along the 
garden path. He seemed not to see or hear. 
I felt a little afraid — I did not understand his 
mood. Besides, it seemed absurd that I 
should be entering into their lives at this 
point, and they old enough for my mother 
and father. Suddenly he laughed happily, 
and I felt relieved. 

You are a brick! I am glad that you are 
to have a respectable visitor. The letter will 
be ready in a few minutes, but Susan will see 
that your aunt has it. I will attend to every- 
thing. You can go to the woods and dig 
flowers or anything else you want to. Good- 
bye, child. You are like your aunt in many 
ways.^^ I knew that was the highest compli- 
ment he could possibly pay me. 

''Wait!’’ I said, "I want to tell you more 
about Aunt Jane’s visitor. It has been 
rumored that he is very wealthy and when he 


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188 


comes to call it is possible that he may come 
in an automobile, one of those great, touring 
cars; or he may come in a coach drawn by a 
pair of prancing horses, jingling their gold- 
mounted harnesses, and making such a com- 
motion that even the hens will scatter in 
every direction. The inhabitants of the farm 
will stand around in open-eyed wonder and 
I will announce to Aunt Jane, ^Behold, the 
conquering hero! He comes 1’^’ 

His laugh followed me as I ran out of the 
garden. I went to the woods as he suggested 
and was gone a long time. When I returned 
James was gone. 


CHAPTER XIX 


Two DAYS of rain followed James^ departure, 
and for want of something else to do I wan- 
dered and loitered about the house, while 
Aunt Jane appeared preoccupied and dis- 
traught. What was uppermost on the minds 
of both of us, each kept strictly to herself. 

Susan told her that Mr. Palmer had dis- 
charged James but that she would stay if we 
wanted her a spell” longer. Aunt Jane 
replied that she would be glad to have her 
help us until we went to the city for good. 
She did not know when that would be but 
she thought before long. 

“For my part,” continued Susan, “I don^t 
see how Miss Ruth will manage about the 
garden now James is gone.” I wondered 
who Susan was and how much she knew about 
James. 

The wind had changed and was drying up 
the wet earth together with the sun which was 
breaking through the clouds. I went out 
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165 


to the veranda and walked to and fro waiting 
for the mail. Now that Mr. Elliott and James 
were both gone, we did not get it so regularly. 
When it was pleasant I went to Mr. Palmer’s 
myself after it. 

The Palmers had not mentioned James in 
any way, and I wondered if he told them that 
I discharged him. If Mr. Elliott were only 
home he could smooth out so many questions 
that keep coming up in my mind, I assured 
myself; but the thought only made me the 
more impatient. I did wish something would 
happen, everything seemed so dismal, almost 
funereal. I feared that after all Aunt Jane’s 
love affair might turn out a tragedy instead 
of a comedy as I had considered it up to that 
moment. At the earliest possible minute, I 
determined, I would ask Mr. Elliott to explain 
this new development to me and if he proved 
obdurate, then there was but one course left 
to pursue, and that was to write to Cousin 
Tom and let him investigate the matter. 
Not one word had I heard from Mr. Elliott 
since he went away except what his mother 
happened to think to tell me. 

^^Ah! here comes the man with the mail,” 
I exclaimed aloud as he appeared at the 


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farther end of the garden path, and in the 
vague hope that something would occur to 
liven things up a little, I rushed down to- 
meet him. 

A box! For whom? Me?^’ 

I seized it and the other mail and ran up 
the stairs fumbling with the string. I could 
not wait to untie it so I grabbed the garden 
shears and cut it, tore open the wrappings 
and opened it. My heart nearly stopped 
beating when I saw the contents. 

^^Oh, what beauties 1^^ I exclaimed to Aunt 
Jane who had seen the man coming with it. 

What is it, dear?’^ she asked. 

Roses! Great, beautiful roses! Look, 
Aunt Jane, what beauties they are — the 
largest ones I ever saw!’^ 

^^Yes, they certainly are beautiful. Who 
sent them?^^ 

don^t know, but I thank whoever it is.’^ 
^^Tom was always extravagant, she re- 
marked; then she gathered the papers to- 
gether and went in out of the wind. I fum- 
bled among the roses in the box, looking for a 
card. I found it and the name was William 
Elliott,” and under this was written, ^‘Just 
to keep you from forgetting.” That was all. 


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167 


but the roses told all kinds of stories, glad, 
beautiful stories, gay and happy stories. 

“Oh, how sweet and beautiful and tears, 
happy tears filled my eyes. I brushed them 
quickly away for fear someone would see me, 
then I took the roses and put them carefully 
in water. 

“^Just to keep you from forgetting. ^ 

I repeated it over and over to myself as I 
lifted each one gently from the box. When 
the last one was finally arranged to suit me 
I said softly to myself, “You need not have 
been afraid, I cannot forget you.^^ 

I left them and went into the garden. My 
thoughts wandered backward all the journey 
that the roses had come, to the one who had 
sent them. I knew just how he looked when 
he wrote, “Just to keep you from forgetting.’^ 

Sunset came into the garden. The birds 
sang and twittered in the trees. A hawk 
hung in the air over the maple trees in the 
valley. Crickets chirruped in the grass and 
the katydid said that katydidn’t in the 
shrubbery. But I was unconscious of it all. 
I only knew what the roses were saying — 
“Just to keep you from forgetting.” To me, 
everything in the garden was saying it. I 


168 


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walked around my bed of zinnias; each one 
waved in the breeze and said it, over and over. 
At last I went into the house only to go and 
look at the roses, and they were still breathing 
it softly in the twilight, over and over, and as 
I closed the door I whispered back to them, 
^^No, I will not forget.^’ 

I wandered into the living-room, sat down 
before the desk and opened the little drawer 
that held Grandmother’s picture. Seek and 
ye shall find,” it said. What? Shall I ever 
know?” I queried. ^^Some time, somewhere,” 
Grandmother seemed to say to me; ^^have 
patience, all in good time. ^ Everything comes 
to him who waits.’ ” 

I wondered if she knew about the roses — 
^^Just to keep me from forgetting.” 

I must have gone off in a reverie with my 
hand on the handle of the half-opened drawer, 
and with a dreamy desire to look at the roses 
once more, attempted to rise, half lost my 
balance and to keep from falling pressed 
heavily on the drawer, and as though by magic 
out flew a long, shallow drawer directly under 
the other taking in the entire length of the 
desk. 

Goodness!” I exclaimed, brought suddenly 


Round Hill Farm 


169 


to full consciousness, What does that mean! 
^Seek and ye shall find/ Have I found it?^' 
I wondered what I had better do — call Aunt 
Jane? ^^No, not yet; I will find out what it 
contains,’^ I reflected. ‘^Ah, Grandmother, 
you have guarded these treasures long and 
carefully and I seem to be the one you have 
selected to confide in and trust them to.^^ I 
decided to examine the contents slowly and 
carefully, but, first of all I went and got the 
roses and placed them where they would be 
near me. 

There were a number of bank-books, papers 
of various kinds, and a sealed package di- 
rected to William Elliott, to be opened in 
October — ^by him or in his presence, if he 
were living; if not, to be opened by one 
Ebenezer Palmer. The package he spoke of 
the day we found Grandmother’s picture must 
be a copy of this one, I thought, and I won- 
dered if there was a method in Great-uncle’s 
whim. Mr. Elliott seemed to think there was. 

October was come and Mr. Elliott would 
surely be home in a few days; so I decided not 
to examine the bank-books and papers but 
to wait till he came. 

Dear little Grandmother,” I murmured as 


170 


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I looked at her picture, “Great-uncle knew 
that you would guard his treasures well. I 
have found you, Grandmother, nestling secure 
and safe in that lovely, old-fashioned case, 
our Great-uncle^s most precious treasure, 
hidden away from curious eyes, amongst his 
earthly possessions. Good-night, Grandmoth- 
er,'' I said, closing the little drawer, “other 
eyes than mine will visit you before many 
days and then you will be free. Great- 
uncle's possessions will pass on to other hands, 
but I am glad that I was the one you chose 
to help you guard Great-uncle's treasures. 
I will take your place and be, the ^Lady of 
Round Hill Farm'." 


CHAPTER XX 


Gay and beautiful was all the country. 
Never did Autumn paint a more gorgeous 
picture than that maple swamp down in the 
valley. There were all shades and tints of 
bronze, crimson and gold. No two trees 
were alike in color, and sometimes a soft, 
transparent blue haze hovered over the valley 
while each day brought with it more and more 
evidence of a coming frost. 

Mr. Elliott had not yet returned. A letter 
from Cousin Tom said that Eleanor and he 
were coming soon to make another visit and 
see the farm when all the country was in its 
gayest attire. 

One bright, brisk morning Ebenezer came 
down the lane driving a pair of horses, har- 
nessed to a great empty farm-wagon. I was 
seized with a great desire to do something this 
glorious morning, so I called out to him: 

Where are you going?'' 

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172 


Round Hill Farm 


'^Down to the wood lot to git a load of 
wood” he shouted back. 

Please, may I go?^' I asked as I caught 
up with the advancing team. 

^‘Yes, I s’pose ye can. Git right in an’ 
hold the reins while I open the gate.” 

I climbed in and sat down on a board that 
answered for a seat, took the reins and pre- 
pared to drive. 

^‘Ye be careful an’ not hit the gate post 
with the hind wheel when ye drive through, 
for that off boss is mighty skittish. I don’t 
like to trust ye with him.” 

I promised to be careful and had driven 
the team about half way through, when I 
heard a rumbling noise that made the horses 
start and almost instantly an automobile 
came tooting and whizzing around a bend in 
the road. Like a flash of lightning the horses 
gave one mighty leap up in the air, then 
turned sharply to the right and flew like 
the wind. Ebenezer jumped quickly, reach- 
ing for the horses’ bridle, but was not 
quick enough and just missed being hit by 
the wheel of the wagon as it went swiftly 
by him. 

^‘Hold ’em tight! Keep ’em to the road!” 


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173 


he shouted, but his voice sounded way in 
the distance by the time it reached me. On 
we dashed in our mad career. The board 
that answered for a seat dropped at one end 
and then was gone altogether. This threw 
me down and I bounced around on the floor 
of the wagon, but I still held the reins tightly 
and managed to get up on my knees* How 
that wagon swayed and bounded along, and 
how I bumped and thumped as we flew over 
that rough, stony road! No monk in the 
days of torture ever had his knees hammered 
as mine were! But we reached the end of 
the long hill without accident. I had man- 
aged to keep the horses in the road thus far. 
Next I had a long, level stretch of road and 
after that a long hill to go up. If everything 
held together and we did not meet a team, I 
thought I might get them to walk going up 
the long hill. Suddenly the horses started 
on a faster run and I was conscious of a 
noise behind me. I turned just enough to see 
the automobile coming at lightning speed. 
^'What in the world did they do that for,'' 
(I remember thinking calmly) haven't they 
made trouble enough?" I changed the reins 
from both hands to one and put my other 


174 


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arm around a wagon stake that still remained 
and braced myself. 

On and on we went across the level stretch 
of road, the horses wild with fear. It seemed 
as though they had wings — they went so fast. 
Object after object along the roadside, at 
another time familiar to me, was merged into 
a confused mass. If I was afraid, I did not 
know it. It was a new sensation; I felt every 
nerve vibrating and every muscle was braced 
to meet the end. The wind roared in my 
ears, whipping and fluttering my clothes. All 
at once the automobile shot suddenly by at 
one side and slowed up and a man swung 
himself out, made for the back of my wagon, 
caught it, and after several attempts, man- 
aged to crawl in like a cat. He seemed 
glued to the swaying, bumping wagon. He 
crawled slowly up where I was, reached over 
and took the reins out of my hand. I settled 
back against the side board; the tension was 
over — the responsibility was taken by another. 

The horses seemed to know instantly that 
an experienced and controlling hand held 
them, for they slackened their mad pace and 
the wagon swayed and bumped less violently. 
It had seemed previously that at every leap 


Round Hill Farm 


176 


the horses made, the back-end of the wagon 
would be snapped away. They kept prancing 
in jerks until they were about half way up the 
hill. I breathed a long sigh of relief; the 
moment for relaxation had come and I re- 
membered to look and see who it was that had 
risked so much to save me. 

^^Mr. Elliott!’^ I cried, for it was he. His 
face was white beneath the tan and his eyes 
shone with excitement. 

We are safe now,’’ he said; then he turned 
and waved to the people in the automobile. 
They evidently understood, for they backed 
the automobile around and went back along 
the level bit of road. Mr. Elliott stood looking 
down at me. 

'^Poor little girl!” he murmured. 

I didn’t know before that tears were running 
down my face, but I knew it now for there 
was a something, a quality in his voice that 
swept away all my nerve. I put my head 
down against the side board and cried hysteri- 
cally. 

“Please, don’t! I beg you to tell me if 
you are hurt, after all. Try and tell me!” 

But, try as I would, I could not control it. 
Fear and excitement, relief and gladness, had 


176 


Round Hill Farm 


followed too quickly and my poor nerves 
must find relief somehow. 

The horses were still nervous and demanded 
his undivided attention and the situation must 
have been trying, to say the least; but he was 
a young man of great power of mind and 
wonderful resource. He turned the horses 
into a wooded cart path, stopped them, then 
jumped out and tied them securely to a good- 
sized tree. 

I had cried enough, by this time, to relieve 
my feelings and was wiping my eyes when 
he came back to the wagon. Kneeling down 
on the floor of the wagon beside me, he handed 
me his handkerchief to take the place of mine 
that was thoroughly wet with the recent 
shower of tears it had had to meet. 

^^Are you hurt anywhere?’^ 

^^N-o, I don’t think I am.” 

'^Will you stand up and let me find out if 
I am?” 

He helped me as I rose slowly to my feet. 
My knees were growing stiff and painful. I 
was about to take a step when one of the 
horses gave a nervous jump. At this, both 
my knees seemed to break. Oh !” I groaned, 
and made a frantic grab in the air. He 


Round Hill Farm 


177 


caught me before I went over backward* 
and looked down at me. 

^‘Please don^t mind — I was going to 
explain that it was only my knees, but he 
interrupted, having evidently reached the 
limit of his endurance. 

^^If anything more happens to you I shall 
go insane. It seems to me I have seen some 
new horror every instant. After I first saw 
you flying down the road behind those frantic 
horses, there was nothing that could possibly 
happen to you that I did not imagine would 
befall you. Oh, it was awful! I saw you 
under the horses^ feet, then under the great 
heavy wheels, then dashed against the stone 
wall. I could not and would not picture to 
you half the horrors that tortured me. I 
would not live through it again — I could not! 
Dear heart, if ever you live to love anyone as 
I do you and see them about to be hurled to 
instant death, you will know how I feel, and 
forgive me.” He was still holding me tightly 
in his arms and I could feel great, trembling 
sighs that seemed to come from the very 
depths of his heart. I reached up my hand 
and held it against his quivering face. 

‘^Please do not feel so — I am not hurt, it 


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is only my knees, they are bruised some but 
not very badly/^ 

^^Are you sure? Do not deceive me — tell 
me truly, if you know yourself/' His voice 
betrayed a tremor still. He could not believe 
that my injuries were so slight. 

^‘Yes, I am sure. I bumped along quite a 
ways on my knees, and the wagon wasn't 
exactly as comfortable as a cushioned car- 
riage. But lame knees are not very danger- 
ous," and I smiled up reassuringly at him. 

^^Can you stand on them?" he asked, and 
his eyes began to lose that terrified look and 
he swallowed several times as if something 
was in his throat that choked him. 

^^Oh, yes," I replied, ^Hhey are only a bit 
battered and wobbley." I wished he would 
put me down, but he did not seem to think 
of it. He was looking down at me with a 
light in his eyes that grew and grew until I 
hid my face in his coat. 

^'Oh, my little Lady of Round Hill Farm, 
I am back home at last. And, dear, I have 
thought of you and dreamed of you every day 
since I went away — and then to find you in 
such danger upon my return!" He gasped 
and was silent for a long time. 


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179 


^'This is the second time you have rescued 
me; don’t you think it time I went back to the 
city? I have been rushing the accidents this 
season. You appeared on the spot just at 
the right moment each time. Why, anyone 
that did not know would say that the whole 
thing was planned.” I had found courage to 
look at him again. 

^^Came too near tragedy to suit me. Let 
me see if you can walk.” Then he put me 
down gently. 

Where did you come from?” I asked, and I 
took several steps to convince him that I 
would not fall to pieces. 

was in the automobile with Tom and 
Miss Roberts.” 

‘^Are they here?” 

Yes, they telephoned me to meet them at 
the Junction and we would come across 
country and surprise you.” 

^^Well, I have been surprised quite enough 
for one day. Come, let’s sit down. I want 
to ask you something, may I? And will you 
promise to answer it?” 

don’t know of anything I wouldn’t tell 
you, but it is better not to promise.” 

^^Then let us hurry home.” 


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'^Oh, I promise, if you will answer the 
question that I want answered/’ 

^^No, I am going home.” 

'‘What is it you want to know?” 

"It’s about James.” Then I told him 
everything that had happened; all that I had 
seen, heard or said. "Now, will you tell me 
everything? Aunt Jane is my all in all, and 
I have a right to know.” 

"Very well; James is my mother’s cousin. 
Possibly you have heard that he is very 
wealthy. I attend to considerable of his 
business. Well, it happened that he was in 
my oflBce one day and a letter from your 
aunt lay on the desk. He recognized the 
writing instantly. He asked questions and 
I answered until he learned that she had 
arranged to spend the summer here on the 
farm. He told me enough of his past history 
for me to understand that he and your aunt 
were engaged once, but that because of his 
unreasonable and violent temper she broke 
the engagement. That was twenty-five years 
ago this summer, and once each year since 
then he has renewed his suit. This makes the 
twenty-fifth time, and he told me that this 
would be the last. His playing servant 


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began through a mistake. He liked to busy 
himself around the bam when he stayed with 
us. The day you came he had on an old hat 
of father’s that covered his hair entirely. 
You mistook him for James and the idea 
came into his head to play the part. So 
that night I went to town, bought the wig, 
came home and told father and mother about 
it. They objected at first but finally con- 
sented to see it to the end — and father has 
enjoyed it to the utmost. I think your aunt 
Jane knew him the first day, the day the 
stove-pipe came down; that fit of temper 
she was very familiar with, but he did not 
know until recently that she knew. Since 
then he has improved each shining hour and 
the last act will be played before long.” 

Who is Susan?” 

^^She is the sister of James Noxon, the man 
who takes care of the horses. They have 
been well paid to play their parts and to keep 
silence.” 

^^All this bother over two women! You 
have been playing a game all summer. I 
suppose you both thought we would return to 
the city after a while and we would be none 
the wiser.” 


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Round HiU Farm 


I was thoroughly annoyed at him for a few 
minutes. It was mean, and it made me angry. 
I was dizzy with resentment and defiance. 

^'Now, what a mess! I beg to you not to 
look at it that way. The play was begun 
before I had seen you or knew you. You have 
only to consult history to find excuse for poor 
James; besides, ^all is fair in love and war\^^ 
have been an easy mark. Only an 
imbecile could have been fooled all these 
weeks. The comedy has been long drawn 
out. I hope you have found it suflSciently 
amusing.^' 

I was hurt and puzzled beyond expression 
for I thought he was too good, or at least, 
too much my friend to do a thing like that. 

'^Do not, please, do not look at me like 
that. Can^t I make you understand — won’t 
you believe it was not a trick? It was not 
even thought of until you mistook James for 
the hired man that first day you came. 
Come, say you forgive me. I know it does 
not look just right, but down deep in your 
heart you understand no disrespect was 
intended or thought of.” 

Eloquence — all eloquence! That will do. 
I am going home. If you will not take me. 


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183 


I shall walk with my bruised and aching 
knees/’ and to show that I intended to do as 
I said, I slipped off the end of the wagon. 
But I had over-estimated my ability to carry 
out my purpose; my poor knees gave way 
beneath me, and, with a groan of agony, 
and the tears starting to my eyes, I dropped 
in a heap on the ground. 

Without a word Will Elliott gathered me 
up and lifted me gently onto the wagon. 
Then he rested his arms on the wheel and 
dropped his head on his arms. His face was 
white and troubled. I looked at that motion- 
less, silent figure until all my resentment and 
defiance were gone. I did not care if he had 
made a fool of me. I was sorry. I moved 
over and laid my hand on his head. 

am very sorry. Please don’t mind. I 
believe all you have told me.” 

Still he did not move. Then I wiggled my 
hand into his and he closed his upon it and 
held it tightly. 

know I have been mean,” I continued, 
thoroughly penitent, ^^but it would make 
anybody angry if they thought they had been 
made a fool of a whole summer, wouldn’t it? 
But I understand that was not on the pro- 


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gram. Then, too, I want you to know that 
I am grateful. I want to thank you for what 
you have done. If you had not stopped those 
frightened horses, where would I be now?’’ 

Will you please stop! I beg your pardon, 
but that is a picture I see now — a horrible, 
hideous nightmare. I don’t think I shall ever 
forget it!” 

^^Come,” I said, to change the subject; 
^Hhe folks will be anxious. They do not 
know where we are.” 

^^Yes, I suppose we must,” he responded, 
but making no move to go; want to tell 
you,” he went on, ^'how brave you were. 
Tom and Miss Roberts knew that you were, 
too.” 

Ah, yes, I want you to tell me about them 
after we get on the road again.” (I did wish 
he would stop talking about my being brave.) 
^'Please start; Aunt Jane will be worried to 
death.” 

All right, but can I call you Ruth when we 
are alone?” 

^^You are the most troublesome boy I 
know!” 

Please! You don’t know how nice it 
sounds.” 


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185 


'^Oh, but I will and so will you if you do 
not hurry, for the entire population of the 
neighborhood will be out calling ^Ruth' at 
the very top of their voices.” 

^'You are the most incorrigible bit of 
feminine drollery I ever knew,” he replied as 
he went and untied the horses. When he had 
turned them around we started on our home- 
ward way. There was no seat, so we sat on 
the floor of the wagon with our backs against 
the side board. 

^^Now tell me what you have been doing 
all these weeks you have been away,” I 
demanded. 

Some time I will. I want to talk of some- 
thing else now.” 

'^Were you successful in the business you 
went to attend to?” I asked quickly, for I 
did not wish to hear this ^'something else.” 

Yes, fairly so.” 

Did you make a lot of money?” 

All I expected to — ^yes.” 

We had been winding slowly along up the 
hill. wish you would stand up and take 
a look at the colors down in the valley and up 
along the hillside. I was so afraid it would 
all be gone before you came home.” 


186 


Round Hill Farm 


^^Did you think of me, and do you want me 
to see them with your eyes or mine?’^ 

Why, yours, of course. I thought I 
knew how much you would hke the view.'' 

‘^Then I will tell you how it looks to me," 
and he commenced to describe the scene in 
a low, clear voice: 

^^High up on the hillside, October has 
draped her gay, barbaric colors — all the 
shades and tones of russet, bronze, crimson, 
and gold are blended together in one bright, 
beautiful wave. That hillside I shall name 
this summer, because this summer brought 
you to our neighborhood. I have known you. 
Miss Lester, and to know you is the most 
beautiful thing in my life thus far. Then, 
down below, next to the plain where the frost 
has touched the fohage here and there, soften- 
ing and refining all that gay splendor until it 
looks hke a rare old bit of Persian tapestry 
almost too precious for the eyes to behold — 
that I shall name the time when you answer 
that question which you know I want you to 
answer. Then there's that dark green strip 
of cedar trees growing on the plain, nestling 
in the valley. Green is the color God made 
for every day use, a color the eyes and heart 


Round Hill Farm 


187 


never grow weary of, a color that is enduring 
all the days of one^s life. That I shall name 
the time when you and I are onel’^ 

I looked at him, fascinated with the picture 
he had drawn and the wonderful sweetness 
of his expression and the tenderness betrayed 
in his voice. Then I glanced up the road. 

Look!^’ and I pointed up the hill. Every- 
one from both farms was congregated at the 
top of the hill looking at us. Hurry the 
horses, please do; every face looks anxious and 
troubled.’^ I called to them and said that 
we were all right. 

As the horses walked through the gateway, 
I caught sight of two automobiles where I 
had expected to see but one. 

'^Who can that other automobile belong 
to?^^ I wondered aloud. 

^'That is James^ or Mr. Judson^s car, I 
guess,’’ Will Elliott replied. ''Your aunt 
must have a caller. Yes, there he is with the 
rest.” 

"Tom and Eleanor! I am so glad to see 
you both,” I said cheerily, but they were not 
so easily reassured. 

Cousin Tom came and helped me out of the 
wagon. "Poor little girl!” His voice was 


188 


Round Hill Farm 


husky and I could see that they had put in a 
bad half hour; they all looked so solemn and 
anxious. Eleanor was holding one of my 
hands and Aunt Jane was fluttering around as 
though she expected me to fall to pieces any 
minute. 

Are you sure you are not hurt?’^ someone 
asked. 

^^Hurt? No. It was an exciting and ex- 
hilarating ride, only the next time I would 
like to have some cushions for my knees if I 
am to ride that way. At present they are 
quite lame and wobbley. I can^t say that I 
like bumping down hill on my knees in an 
empty lumber wagon, otherwise the ride was 
quite satisfactory” (more so then I had any 
idea of telling.) 

^^Didn^t I tell ye not to worry,” said Eben- 
ezer (he had been looking his team over care- 
fully), an^ didn’t I tell ye that Miss Ruth had 
more gumption than to drop the reins? Wa’al, 
I guess not, arter all the instructions I gin her 
this summer. Some folks use thar brains — 
then, again, some don’t; it makes a dif’rence 
who they be, how much brain they be bom 
with, an’ how they use what they’ve been 
blessed with. An’ arter I heard William had 


Round Hill Farm 


189 


got his hands on the reins, why, that warn’t 
nothin’ more to worry about. Say, Miss, 
let me interduce ye to my wife’s cousin, James 
Judson.” 

Mr. Judson and I did not look directly at 
each other. I knew that Aunt Jane was 
watching us closely, so I took a step in his 
direction, then cried, ^^Oh, my knees!” (they 
did hurt) and instantly everyone forgot James 
or Mr. Judson and began to express their 
sympathy. 

^^Say,” queried Ebenezer, ^^whar have ye 
two been all this while? How far did ye 
go?” 

Let’s go in,” I said hastily to change the 
subject, ^^my lame knees refuse to hold me 
much longer,” and I started to walk but I 
was so stiff and sore that I caught Eleanor’s 
arm to keep from falling. 

You can’t fool me; I saw you bumped and 
banged around in that hard, rough wagon 
and I know you must be black and blue all 
over if not seriously injured,” said Tom, as he 
picked me up and carried me upstairs to my 
room. 

Aunt Jane bathed m}^ knees and made sure 
that there were no other bruises, and in a 


190 


Round Hill Farm 


little while I hobbled downstairs. It was too 
cold now to sit on the veranda. Aunt Jane 
brought in hot tea and, aided by the cheerful 
blaze of the woodfire, the might-have-been 
accident faded into past history. 

Mr. Elliott still kept an anxious expression 
although he tried his best to be cheerful, and 
I saw Tom looking at him quite often. Intu- 
ition, or something which had been said 
during the runaway made him venture a 
guess that was not far from the truth. 

Late that evening when all were supposed 
to be in bed, I sat by my bedroom window. 
The only light there was in the room came 
from the new moon. Outside I could see 
three figures outlined dimly, and from the 
little sparks of light, I knew that they were 
smoking. Not long after, two of them went 
down the garden path and the other came in. 
I wondered what they had been talking about. 
I sat there for a while thinking over the events 
of the day and gradually a great peace, a new 
happiness stole over me, for I knew that I 
loved Will Elliott. 


CHAPTER XXI 


The next morning I made slow haste in 
dressing. My knees were still stiff and lame, 
and I almost fell several times at the risk of 
waking Eleanor who occupied the room that 
opened out of mine. I happened to glance 
out of the window and saw James, or Mr. 
Judson as I was to call him thereafter, and 
I wondered if I should ever call him Uncle 
James. He was coming up the garden path 
carrying a great bunch of wild asters. Oh,^' 
I thought, “they will be just the thing for 
that tall vase in the hall.^^ He must have 
tramped a long way after them for I knew 
where they grew. I could tell by the deep 
blue color. Evidently Aunt Jane was on 
the veranda waiting, for his face grew posi- 
tively radiant as he waved the flowers and 
hurried up the path and under the veranda 
out of sight. (I think veranda roofs are a 
nuisance to curious people on the second floor 
of a house). For a long time I heard voices, 
191 


192 


Round Hill Farm 


but not words, as I sat alone in my room, 
having finished dressing and seeing that I 
probably was not required downstairs. After 
a while I became tired of my solitude, for 
Eleanor still slept the sleep of the just, so I 
thought I could get downstairs without their 
hearing me. 

I knew the door was open. But my knees 
still being somewhat ungovernable, causing 
me to make a misstep, I stumbled and that 
brought the two on the veranda to see what 
was the trouble. 

^^You are just the one I want to see,'^ 
said Mr. Judson. ^'Will you let me explain 
something to you, something your aunt 
cannot make up her mind to tell you.^^ 

Why, yes.’' I tried to look innocent, and 
there was a merry sparkle in Mr. Judson’s 
eyes. 

will begin at the beginning,” he said. 

Twenty-five years ago your aunt and I were 
engaged. Well, we broke the engagement and 
I went abroad and was gone quite a number 
of years. After I came home I found that 
she was still Miss Lester. I have asked her 
several times to exchange Lester for Judson 
but you were the excuse. She said she could 


Round Hill Farm 


193 


not, that she promised her brother to con- 
sider you first and always/^ 

‘‘Then/^ I said, think she ought to have 
kept her word/^ 

^^What do you mean?^^ they both asked in 
astonishment. 

'^Why, I have always wanted an uncle, 
and I think she was very remiss in her duty 
and rather mean not to give me one.’' I 
made a hasty retreat after that — agoing as 
fast as my injured limbs would carry me to 
the garden. After a time Cousin Tom came 
down the garden path on his way to the house. 
I called to him and he came down to the bench 
where I was sitting. I began the subject 
that was uppermost on my mind. 

“Tom, do you know this Mr. Judson very 
well?” 

“It was rumored years ago that he and 
Aunt Jane were engaged but I guess that was 
gossip.” 

“Well, it is not gossip now; I have reason 
to believe they are engaged — I don’t know, 
but I am almost sure.” 

“What, our Aunt Jane! You don’t mean 
it! Impossible!” 

“Yes, and it is not impossible.” 


194 


Round Hill Farm 


“Father will have this farm removed from 
the earth. Thunderation, what a calamity! 
And still more to follow 1^^ As he made the 
last observation he looked mischievously at 
me. 

“ I am sure/^ I said, “ I don^t know what you 
mean by ^more to follow.^ What discoveries 
have you made?’' I was not looking at him, 
but I am afraid the ear next to him was a 
little red. 

“I will not tell you about any discoveries 
I may have made, but I will tell you that you 
must not crucify poor old Will beyond the 
limit of endurance.” 

“Who has — what do you mean? Who has 
any idea of crucifying him, I should like to 
know?” 

“I told him years ago that I had a cousin 
that would bewitch a brick house.” 

“Um! Discipline is good for mankind.” 

“Is it? Well, don’t be cruel and overdo it. 
Come, Eleanor is up. I wonder where break- 
fast and Aunt Jane is? I am as hungry as a 
Modock Indian!” Then we sauntered slowly 
into the house where we found breakfast 
waiting. 

“ Now is the time to ride around the country 


Round Hill Farm 


195 


amid the gay and rustling leaves/^ Cousin 
Tom said at the breakfast table. ^‘Don^t you 
want to go somewhere in the automobile, 
Ruth, or are you too lame?’' 

'^Yes, I should like to go. My knees are 
too lame to walk, but they will ride all right." 

He asked Aunt Jane to go but she answered 
that she would rather not. ^^Then I will go 
and ask Will Elliott," said Tom; and in a 
little while they came back together. Eleanor 
and I were ready, and soon we were spinning 
gaily along — Eleanor and I in the back and 
the men in the front seat. Our road led 
through a forest, and as we wound in and out 
Eleanor spied some chestnuts and wanted 
them, so Tom stopped the car and gathered 
the few he could find. Mr. Elliott suggested 
that we turn the automobile in at a cart path 
beyond where he knew we could find quantities 
of them. Tom turned the machine around 
and went quite a distance into the deep woods. 
I said I would sit where I was while the rest 
gathered chestnuts. Tom replied, all right, 
they would keep me in sight. Mr. Elliott, 
however, said he would keep me in sight by 
staying in the automobile with me, and though 
I urged him to go, he stayed. 


196 


Round Hill Farm 


''Do you know when you are going back to 
the city?^^ he began, as soon as the others were 
out of hearing. 

"I really don't know; it all depends upon 
Aunt Jane. I should like to stay until 
Thanksgiving, but I am afraid Mr. Judson 
will spoil my plans." 

"I wish I knew positively," he replied. 

"Why?" 

"Because I must make up my mind about 
going into business with Tom. I know I 
can make more money there than here, and I 
can take the jobs that have the most money 
in them with me." 

"But, what have I to do with it?" 

" Everything." 

"Why everything? I do not under- 
stand." 

"Just this much. If you go, I go; and if 
you stay I shall stay. Tom has been very 
patient to wait so long." 

I was growing annoyed. "I think I shall 
hate everybody!" 

"I think I should rather that you would, 
than just to like me." 

This was too much. My nerves were not 
any too strong after yesterday's episode. I 



“ ‘Can’t you love me just a little ? ’ ” 


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Round Hill Farm 


197 


put my head down against the front seat of 
the auto and cried. 

^'Please don^t! For heaven’s sake, won’t 
you stop?” he begged in a distracted voice, 
shall go insane if you cry again today.” 

I was sorry but I could not stop instantly, 
and, made bold by his remorse and sympathy, 
he put his head down close to mine. 

Please forgive me; I did not mean to make 
you feel badly. I love you so — can’t you 
love me just a little?” 

I moved my head to mean yes. 

'^Are you sure?” His tone expressed so 
much astonishment. I moved it again to 
signify yes — this time a little faster. 

^^Will you look at me?” 

I looked just a little; his hand was under my 
chin and he turned my face towards him. 

^^Ruth,” and his voice dropped to a low 
tone of passionate entreaty, ^^are you sure? 
Am I your all in all? Tell me truly, do you 
love me?” 

“Yes, I am sure,” I replied steadily and I 
returned his gaze fearlessly for an instant, 
then hid my face again. 

It was some time later. The sun was high 
overhead; the clear October air filled all the 


198 


Round Hill Farm 


woods, and the trees dropped their leaves of 
crimson and gold and bronze silently. A 
bright-eyed chicadee in a clump of laurel 
nearby sang sweetly, seeming to say he was 
as happy as we. Down the long cart path 
we could see Cousin Tom and Eleanor as 
busy as two children sitting by a great flat 
rock, pounding out chestnuts from their 
prickly burrs under a grand old monarch of the 
forest. There was quite a large heap of 
mangled burrs beside them, evincing the fact 
that they had been so occupied for a con- 
siderable length of time. 

^^They are coming,’^ Will Elliott laughed; 
^'How I wish they could stay away a little 
longer.'^ 

On our way home I chanced to remember 
Great-uncle’s message to be read in October. 
The time had come, and I wondered what it 
would mean to some of us — could there be 
anything else to add to my happiness? Who 
could Great-uncle have remembered? Per- 
haps he had only the farm, and maybe the 
message was but a farewell word. So I 
inquired of Mr. Elliott, or Will (as I now had 
the right to call him), if the time had not come 
to read the message. 


Round Hill Farm 


199 


'^Why, yes; I had forgotten all about it. 
I am glad Tom is here — he is one of your 
uncle's heirs, you know." Then he and Tom 
talked the matter over and decided to read it 
after we reached home. 

When we got to the house, Will went home 
and came back with his father and Mr. Judson. 
We were all together in the living-room. No 
one but myself knew about the long drawer 
in the desk and the hidden spring. 

Will Elliott gave the message to Tom and 
requested him to open and read it. All it 
contained was a description of the desk and 
the way to find the spring that opened the 
mysterious drawer. 

Ebenezer put his finger on it almost in- 
stantly. The others did not notice it, but 
I knew that he must have been familiar with 
it. Then the four men examined the contents 
of the drawer carefully. Mr. Judson was 
called upon this time to break the seal and 
read the last message of the dead. 

It was a will duly signed and sealed but not 
written by Will Elliott. Mr. Judson read on. 
The first one to be remembered was his great- 
niece, Ruth Lester; to her he gave her grand- 
mother's picture and ten thousand dollars; 


200 


Round Hill Farm 


to his great-nephew, Thomas Lester, ten 
thousand dollars; to his niece, Jane, the farm 
that had already come into her possession; 
and all that remained of his estate, real, 
personal or movable, he gave to his friend, 
William Elliott, etc. 

It was a supreme moment. A silence fell 
upon all in the room. Everyone was looking 
at William. 

'^Are — are you sure?^^ he asked, overcome 
with surprise. 

“Quite sure,^^ answered Mr. Judson. “Al- 
low me to congratulate you!” 

“It is like a fairy-tale,” said Eleanor. 
“The old house, the secret drawer, a message 
from the dead, and — ” 

“Yes,” interrupted Aunt Jane, her own 
happiness making her heart to overflow with 
good-will to everyone; “allow us all to con- 
gratulate you,” and she gave her hand to 
William. 

Tom had not said a word yet, but stood 
with his hand on Wilks shoulder. They were 
looking at each other. Finally, Tom man- 
aged to say — and there was a huskiness in his 
voice: “My one and only wish is that Great- 
uncle may be found to be worth a million!” 


Round Hill Farm 


201 


I was truly sorry for Will Elliott. He was 
speechless with emotion and astonishment. 
He did not dare to trust himself to say any- 
thing for the moment, and, as usual, Eben- 
ezer came to the rescue. 

^^Wa’al, William, maybe it ain’t enough to 
make ye so cut up. Better investigate — an’, 
I vow, William, if it should turn out a likely 
bit o’ property maybe ye can reconcile yerself 
by keepin’ it in the Lester fam’ly! Do ye 
s’pose he can?” he asked, turning abruptly to 
me. 

William and everyone else looked at me and 
the laugh that followed put everyone but me 
at ease. 

All’s well that ends well,’” quoted Mr. 
Judson. Then Tom and Will began looking 
over the bank books and other papers and 
they made an estimate of something like 
fifty thousand. That would leave Will about 
thirty thousand when the ten thousand each 
for Tom and me had been disposed of. 

All the remainder of the day nothing else 
was talked of. No one had dreamed that 
Great-uncle had so much money. 

That evening out in the dark comer of the 
veranda when Will Elliott bade me good- 


202 


Round Hill Farm 


night he said, ''I shall give it back to you, 
dear one; it belongs to you — not to me.^' 
‘'Very well,^' I rephed; ^^you cannot have 
me unless you make up your mind to take that 
which belongs to me, too. I think, yes, I 
know, that Great-uncle wanted you to have 
it, else why did he give it to you? So that^s all 
there is about it. Besides,’^ I added with a 
happy laugh, ‘^you and all your worldly 
goods are mine, anyway — or will bel^^ 


CHAPTER XXn 

Cold weather had come in real earnest; 
the wind howled about the house, shaking 
everything that would rattle or bang. The 
almost leafless trees tossed their bare branches 
wildly about and everything was very dismal. 
Everything was packed up or gone, for we 
were returning to the city and the farm would 
be left in Ebenezer^s care once more. I had 
been around the old haunts and said good- 
bye to everything, so dear to me. I went to 
the little spring between the cliffs, climbed 
the rocks and looked down at the stream. 
The pure, sparkling water flowed out from 
under the rock just as faithfully now as it did 
on that hot July day. Spring, summer, au- 
tumn and winter it bubbled and sang, never 
heeding the changing seasons. Down below 
where the water ran when the spring over- 
flowed and along the hillside, the bare witch- 
hazel was blooming, its pale yellow flowers 
and grey, speckled twigs standing out in 
203 


204 


Round Hill Farm 


sharp contrast to all about. It is the last 
wild shrub to bloom. 

In returning home, I went around by Mr. 
Palmer^s to make the last call for a while. I 
felt sorry, as I thought how lonesome they 
would probably be during the long, cold 
winter, alone on the farm, their son gone, 
and I w’^ondered if they would not reproach 
me for it. 

As I neared the house, I saw the old gentle- 
man at the wood-pile. 

^^Wa’al, I^m right glad to see ye!” he ex- 
claimed, as I stepped up and surprised him. 
^^Wife has been looking for ye all the arter- 
noon. Go right in, it^s too cold for ye to 
be a-standin’ out here.” 

Mrs. Palmer and I had a good talk over 
many things, and when I finally started for 
home it was getting quite late. Ebenezer 
was still cutting wood. I could not go until 
I had had another talk with him, so I went 
around the woodpile and sat down on the 
saw horse. After a while, we talked about 
the money Great-uncle had left William; 
somehow I had my suspicions that he had 
known all about it, and I now asked him. 

^^Wa^al, seein^ as how ye an^ William be 


Round Hill Farm 


205 


engaged, I'll tell ye. Your great-uncle was 
of two minds all winter afore he died, about 
making his will. Me and William had always 
been good to him, so he thought, and his 
relations an' he wam't on extry good terms. 
He would decide to give his money to William, 
then again, blood would tell, as they say, 
and he'd about make up his mind to remem- 
ber some on his relations. Fin'ly, Judson was 
over thar with me one day an' we got to talkin' 
on the subjec' an' he tol' the ole man all 
about each one on ye — even had a picture of 
ye an' yer Aunt Jane, both. The Lord only 
knows how he cum by 'em, I don't! Wa'al, 
they did the ole man no end o' good, an' the 
next day he sent for James to cum over, an' 
he went. James seemed pleased about some- 
thin' an' arter all the arrangements was com- 
plete they tol' me the hull thing, as I s'posed. 
I was tol' how to open the secret drawer in 
the desk, an' I was to look arter it in case of 
fire or anything — but I didn't know nothin' 
about William's havin' the money. Yer 
great-uncle took a great fancy to yer picture 
an' he an' Judson thought if things worked 
all right, he could give William the money an' 
still keep it in the fam'ly, an', I vum, I never 


206 


Round Hill Farm 


did see anything ever work so complete! 
The hand o’ Providence seemed to work the 
hull thing. Why, jes’ think on’t! Ye an’ 
William arrived on the same train; then the 
blamed bosses got frightened an’, I vow, thar 
was William ag’in, all ready to do the rescue. 
Didn’t dream he was within a hundred miles 
on us, but thar he was, ready an’ willin’ like 
a lamb led to the feed-dish. An’ it ’twarn’t 
long before Wife an’ I knew jes’ how the hull 
thing was a-goin’ to end.” 

'^Mr. Judson must have a very calculating 
mind,” I said, not over-pleased. 

^^Wa’al, yes — an’ thar it is ag’in. Who 
knew he was arter yer aunt? I didn’t till 
arter ye’d arrived an’ he wanted to play 
^James’ the servant. Then I washed my 
ban’s of the hull job!” 

I spoke of the long, cold, lonesome winter 
when they would be alone. It filled me with 
sadness to think of it, and he must have seen 
how I felt for he said: 

Don’t think we blame ye any, child; we 
be honestly glad on’t. Glad to see the boy 
happy an’ started right in life. Why — ” 
(here he dropped his axe and sat down on the 
chopping-block, facing me) ^^we feel as Ma- 


Round Hill Farm 207 

tildy Batson mustVe felt at her first husbands 
funeral/^ 

‘^Is it a stoty?'’ I inquired, hoping it was, 
for I was feeling rather depressed and wel- 
comed something that would make me feel 
cheerful and happy. 

^^Wa’al, yes, I s^pose so. Anyway, it did 
happen over to the church, for I was thar 
myself an’ heard the hull thing.” 

'^Please tell it to me — I want to hear it.” 

Won’t ye git cold settin’ here on the saw- 
hoss in this wind? Better go inter the house 
ag’in whar it’s warm, ’cause if I keep ye out 
here listenin’ to my stories an’ ye git cold 
an’ be sick so ye can’t go to the city tomorrow, 
William will have me hung, or somethin’ 
e’kely as bad.” The funny old face was all 
wrinkled up with humor at his own fantastic 
invention. 

‘^Please go on with the story. I want to 
hear it now and here.” 

^^Wa’al, if ye will stay, it was this way. 
Let me see — ^it happened long ’fore William 
was born — ^yes, quite a spell before. Wa’al, 
Matildy had been married nigh onto ten year 
when her husban’ was took sick an’ died. 
Ole Elder Tuke preached the funeral sermon. 


208 


Round Hill Farm 


The meetin^ house was full o’ people; every- 
body turned out an’ went ’cause they was both 
brung up in the neighborhood. It was one 
on the biggest funerals I ever see in the 
church — an’ I’ve seen a good many. Why, 
the yard was full of teams. Wa’al, to go on, 
the ole Elder fin’ly took his seat. Triends,’ 
says he, ^Ye’ll find my text between the lids of 
the Bible.’ An’ he went on till he gradually 
got warmed up an’ had most of the congrega- 
tion a-sheddin’ tears — he was natur’ly awfully 
gifted, ye know. Wa’al, all to once he raised 
his arms up high an’ shouted — ^An’ would ye 
have him back? Would ye have him back?’ 
Then, as bad luck would have it, he happened 
to turn his eyes towards Matildy, an’ what 
did that hysterical critter do but shake her 
head! Then he shouted ag’in— The sister 
shakes her head — ^she would not have him 
back!’ An’, I vow, the hull congregation 
nearly laughed out. I never saw the beat 
on’t. Nobody that was in that congregation 
that day ever forgot it. An’,” he added, 
turning towards me and looking directly at 
me with a very tender smile, Wife an’ me feel 
that way about William, child — we would 
not have him back!” 



The Garden Series 


By CARRO FRANCES WARREN 

When completed will comprise SIX of the most fascinating, 
and at the same time uplifting and instructive stories for 
children ever written. The titles are: 

(1) Little Betty Marigold and Her Friends. 

(2) Little Polly Primrose and Her Friends. 

(S) Little Goldie Goldenrod and Her Friends. 

(4) Little Danny Dandelion. 

(5) Little Peter Pansy. 

(6) Little Topsy Thistle. 

Of these the first three have already been issued and 
Number Four will make an early appearance. 

Each volume will contain a page showing all the flowers 
mentioned in the stoiy in all the beauty of their natural 
colors. These nature studies will be of great interest 
and value to every child reader. 

The many colored illustrations and handsome binding 
will make any or all of these volumes most attractive gift 
books for the children. They will be sold at a uniform 
price of 75 cents each. 

At all Booksellers or sent ‘postpaid by 

The C. M. Clark Publishing Co. 

£11 Tbemont Street :: Boston. Mass. 



SELECTIONS FROM LIST OF 

Ihe C. M. Clark Publishing Co. 

WINDING WATERS. By Frances Parker. 

Illustrated, Cloth. Pricey ^1.50. 

Author of the two big Western successes : ** Hope Hathaway ** 
and “ Marjie of the Lower Ranch.” This is the first work from 
the pen of Miss Parker in four years. You will find in her new 
strong and compelling story of the Great West many startling dis- 
closures of our land that will rouse criticism and interest. 

TRACT NUMBER 3377. By George H. Higgins and Margaret 
Higgins Haffey. 

Spendidly Illustrated. Cloth. Price^ $1.50, 

Tells how Ashton Walbridge, a young college man, enters 
the oil regions to make his fortune, and how he overcomes all 
obstacles. You will admire Enoch, laugh at “ Little Prue ” and 
sympathize with Anna. Said by many critics who have read the 
advance sheets to be far and ahead of John Fox, Jr.’s “The Trail 
of the Lonesome Pine.” Bound to be a big seller. 

REAL LETTERS OF A REAL GIRL. By Batty. 

Bichly bound, Price^ $1.25. 

The author of this splendid book possesses that rarest of 
gifts, genuine and spontaneous humor. She has, moreover, the 
broad outlook of life and the people that travel in many lands, 
coupled with the keen observation and wit to record her impressions 
that makes her book at once unique and captivating. 

THE HEART OF SILENCE. By Walter S. Cramp. 

Richly bound. Price, $1.50. 

The scene of the opening part of this story is laid in Italy with 
an American family, consisting of a retired manufacturer from the 
United States, his wife and daughter, who is the heroine, and a 
foster son. Around this family is woven a charming tale of love 
and romance. Not a dull line. 

MY SOLDIER LADY. By Ella Hamilton Durley. 

Rlustrated, Cloth, Price j $1.25. 

This bright little book gives the other half of the correspond- 
ence comprising that charming story, “ The Lady of the Decora- 
tion,” but is complete in itself and entirely independent and 
original in conception and heart interest. Five editions and still 
selling. 


THE BELL COW. By Bryant E. Sherman. 

Illustrated, Cloth. Price, §1.50. 

Decidedly a story of simple country life. The trials and 
pleasures are those of the out-of-the-way places. There is plot 
strong enough to keep the reader’s interest from cover to cover. 
Humor, pathos and excitement are all here, bnt the most important 
part is played by the Aunt Betsy, the old maid with the big heart. 

ALICE BRENTON. By Mary Josephine Gale. 

Illustrated. Cloth, Price, §1.50, 

The author has drawn a vivid picture of Colonial Newport, with 
her wealth and culture, spacious mansions and handsome grounds. 

Mrs. Gale describes the sufferings and privations of the people 
during those trying days, calls attention to the depredations of the 
soldiers, and in the end makes love triumph over all obstacles. 
The book has ingenuity in plot, and much interesting material. 
— The News, Newport, B. I. 

THE DOOR WHERE THE WRONG LAY. By Mary E. Greene. 

Illustrated. Cloth, Price, §1,50. 

A story that will well repay the reading is “ The Door Where 
The Wrong Lay.” The plot is a strange and unusual one, and the 
story is one which will linger in the memory long after many a 
lighter tale is forgotten. — Boston Times. 

A KNIGHT IN HOMESPUN. By John Charles Spoth. 

Illustrated. Cloth, Price, §1.50. 

A homely little tale of wholesome sentiment, bearing the title, 
“A Knight In Homespun,” has its scene mainly in and about 
Pocono Mountains in Eastern Pennsylvania. It is told through the 
medium of the old clock, which for many years had ticked off the 
time in the hall of the home of Dr. Henry Boosch, while it watched 
the development of the human drama which went on in the house- 
hold. — New York Times. 

UNCLE SIM. By Fred Perrine Lake. 

Illustrated. Cloth. Price, §1.50, 

A story with a charming rural setting is Uncle Sim.” It 
gives admirable portraiture of the types to be found in a country 
village — pleasant, kindly, royal-hearted folk, whose aquaintance 
is well worth the reader’s while — Boston Times. 

AT THE SIGN OF THE BLUE ANCHOR. By Grace R. Osgood. 

Illustrated. Cloth. Price, §1.50. 

This tale of Colonial Days in New Jersey takes one among 
charming people, through delightful and romantic scenes both in 
the Old World and New. 


A Truly Great Story 


“THIS WAS A MAN!” 

By HATTIE HORNER LOUTHAN 


His life was gentle; and the elements 
So mix’d in him, that Nature might stand up 
And say to all the world “This was a Man !’* 

— Shakuftart 


The Victory of a Character over 
Circumstances 


I F yon read but one book this year, this is the book 
that you should read. It is the most powerful, 
soul-stirring tale that has passed through the presses 
in many years. It is a story of heredity, a story based 
on the belief that “blood will tell,’* a story of sinners 
and of one who “was a man.** The scene is laid 
in Colorado at the present time. 

Frontispiece of Paul, the Hero 


ATTRACTIVELY BOUND IN CLOTH 

Price, $1.50 


The C. M. Clark Publishing Company 

BOSTON, HASS. 







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mar 20 1912 



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